University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

New  York  State  Museum 

Frederick  J.  H.  Merrill  Director 

No.  32    Vol.  7 
February  1900 

ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 

# 

By 

WILLIAM  M.  BEAUCHAMP  S.T.D. 


ALBANY 

university  or  the  state  of  NENV  YORK 

1900 

Ms3m-Mro-2ooo  PricC  30  CCIltS 


UNIVERSITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

New  York  State  Museum 

Frederick  J.  H.  Merrill,  Director 

No.  32    Vol.  7 

February  1900 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF 
NEW  YORK 

BY 

WILLIAM  M.  BEAUCHAMP  S.T.D. 


ALBANY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 
1900 


f966 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

REGENTS 
With  years  of  election 

1874 

Anson  Judd  Upson  L.ti.D.  u.D.  LL.D. 

Chancellor^ 

Glens  Falls 

1892 

William  Croswell  Doane  D.D.  LL.D. 

Vice-  Chancellor, 

Albany 

1873 

Martin  1.  Iownsend  M.A.  LL.U.        _       _  _ 

Troy 

1877 

Chauncey  M.  Depew  LL.D.    _       _       _  _ 

New  York 

1877 

TT      T*         Tlx      A          T      TT  T~\ 

Charles  E.  Fitch  LL.B.  M.A.  L.H.D. 

Rochester 

1877 

Orris  H.  Warren  D.D.         _       _       _  _ 

Syracuse 

1878 

Whitelaw  Reid  LL.D.       -       -  - 

Ne\v  York 

1881 

TIT                                   TTTIT                               TVyTA           HyT  TA 

William  H.  Watson  M.A.  M.D. 

Utica 

1881 

Henry  E.  Turner  ______ 

Lowville 

1883 

0                                  TV  If      TT"                               T      T  T    T  A         T    T      T^         T^  T 

St  Clair  McKelway  L.H.D.  LL.D.  D.C.L. 

Brooklyn 

1885 

Hamilton  Harris  Ph.D.  LL.D.          _       _  _ 

Albany 

1885 

-T-v                          T^l       T~~\         T  T 

Daniel  Beach  Ph.D.  LL.D.     _      _       _  - 

Watkins 

1888 

Carroll  E.  Smith  LL.D.     _       _       _       _  _ 

Syracuse 

1890 

Pliny  T.  Sexton  LL.D.    -       -  - 

Palmyra 

0 

1890 

1 .  Guilford  Smith  M.A.  LL.D.  C.E.   -       -  - 

Bunalo 

1893 

Lewis  A.  Stimson  B.A.  M.D.          _       ^  ^ 

New  York 

1895 

Albert  Vander  Veer  Ph.D.  M.D.       _       _  _ 

Albany 

1895 

Charles  R.  Skinner  M.A.  LL.D. 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  ex  officio 


1897  Chester  S.  Lord  M.A.  LL.D.        _       _       _  Brooklyn 
1897  Timothy  L.  Woodruff  M.A.  Lieutenant-Governor,  ex  officio 
1899  Theodore  Roosevelt  B.A.  LL.D.  Governor,  ex  officio 
1899  John  T.  McDonough  LL.B.  LL.D.  Secretary  of  State,  ex  officio 
One  vaca?icy 


Secretary 

Elected  by  regents 

1900  James  Russel  Parsons  jr  M.A. 

directors  of  departments 
James  Russell  Parsons  jr  M.A. 

Administrative^  College  a?td  High  School  depUs 
Melvil  Dewey  M.A.  State  Library  and  Home  Education 
Frederick  J.  H.  Merrill  Ph.D.  State  ?nuseum 


CONTENTS 


List  of  authorities  referred  to  with  abbreviations   5 

Territories  of  aboriginal  nations  of  New  York   ii 

Aboriginal  occupation  of  New  York   l^ 

Geographic  distribution  of  sites  by  counties: 

Albany   27 

Allegany   29 

Broome   30 

Cattaraugus    31 

Cayuga    35 

Chautauqua  _   41 

Chemung   49 

Chenango  .    51 

Clinton   54 

Columbia   57 

Cortland   58 

Delaware    58 

Dutchess   59 

Erie   60 

Essex  -   66 

Franklin  ,   66 

Fulton   67 

Genesee   67 

Greene   71 

Hamilton   72 

Herkimer   73 

Jefferson   73 

Kings   79 

Lewis   80 

Livingston   80 

Madison   86 

Monroe    92 

Montgomery   100 

Nassau  ,   105 

New  York   106 

Niagara   107 

'Oneida   109 

Onondaga  .    112 

Ontario    125 

Orange   130 

Orleans    131 

Oswego  ..    132 

Otsego   134 

Putnam  _   137 

Queens    137 

Rensselaer   138 

Richmond   139 

Rockland   139 

St  Lawrence   139 

Saratoga   141 

Schenectady   142 

Schoharie    143 

Schuyler   144 

Seneca   144 

Steuben   147 

Suffolk   148 

Sullivan   150 

Tioga     151 

Tompkins    154 

Ulster   156 

Warren   157 

\Vashington    158 

Wayne   158 

Westchester   159 

Wyoming    164 

Yates    164 


L.IST  OF  AUTHORITIES  REFERRED  TO 


The  following  works  are  referred  to  in  the  bulletin  by  the  abbreviations 
in  the  left  margin. 

A.  A.  A.  6.  American  ass'n  for  the  advancement  of  science. 

Proceedings.    1887.    Camb.  Mass.  1887. 
Adams  Adams,  William.    History  of  Cattaraugus  county. 

Syracuse  1893. 

Ainer.  ant.  American  antiquarian;  a  bi-monthly  journal. 

Amer.  arch.  American  archeologist.  1898. 

Anringer  Auringer,  O.  C. 

Of  Troy,  N.  Y.    Personal  letters  to  Dr  Beauchamp. 

Bailey  Bailey,  W.  T.    Richfield     Springs     and  vicinity. 

Richfield  Springs,  N.  Y.  1886. 
Bftird  Baird,  C:W.    History  of  Rye.    (see  Scharf,  J:  T. 

History    of    Westchester    county.    1886.    2 1643- 

709'). 

Barber  Barber,  J:  W.  &  Howe,  Henry.    Historical  collec- 

tions of  New  York.    N.  Y.  1841. 


Bayles 

Beach 
Beauchamp 

Bolton 

Cfheney 


Child.  Directory 


Bayles,  B:  M.  Historical  and  descriptive  sketches 
of  Suffolk  county.    Port  Jefiferson,  L.  I.  1874. 

Beach,  Lewis.    Cornwall.    Newburgh,  N.  Y.  1873. 

Beauchamp,  W:  M.  (see  Onondaga's  centennial,  ''h. 
3) 

Bolton,  Robert.  History  of  the  county  of  Westches- 
ter, N.  Y.  1881. 

Cheney,  T.  Apoleon.  Ancient  monuments  in  west- 
ern New  York,  (see  13th  report  of  State  cabinet 
of  natural  history.  1859.  in  Senate  documents  i860, 
no.  89  [e]) 

Child,  Hamilton,  comp.  Gazetteer  and  business  di- 
rectory of: 

Albany  and  Schenectady  counties,  N.  Y.  1870-71. 
Allegany  county,  N.  Y.  1875 

Broome  and  Tioga  counties,  N.  Y.  1869-70,  1872-73,  p.  la-aj 

Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y.  1874-75 

Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.  1867-86 

Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.  1873-74 

Chemung  <fe  Schuyler  counties,  N.  Y.  i863 

Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  1869-70 

Columbia  county,  N.  Y.  1871-72 

Cortland  county,  N.  Y.  1869 

Crawford  county,  Pa.  1874 

Erie  county.  Pa,  1873-74 

Franklin  and  Clinton  counties,  N.  Y.  1862-63 
Genesee  county,  N.  Y.  1869-70 
Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.  1869-70 


I  Volume  and  page  numbers  are  separated  by  a  colon;  e.  g.  2 :  643  means  volume  2,  page  643. 


LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES  REFERRED  TO 


7 


Clark 

Cleaveland 

Comley 


Cowles 
# 


Delafield 


Doc.  hist.  N.  Y. 


Doty- 
Dudley 


rrench 
Frey 

rrothingham 
Furman 


Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  1684-1890 

Lewis  county,  N.  Y.  1872-73 

Madison  county,  N.  Y.  iS68-6g 

Monroe  county,  N.  Y.  1869-70 

Montgomery  &  Fulton  counties,  N.  Y.  1869-70 

Niagara  county,  N.  Y.  1869 

Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  1869 

Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.  i868-6g 

Ontario  county,  N.  Y.  1867-68 

Orleans  county,  N.  Y.  1869 

Oswego  county,  N.  Y.  1866-67 

Otsego  county,  N.  Y.  1872-73 

Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.  1870-71 

Rutland  county,  Vt.  1881-82 

St  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.  1873-74 

Saratoga  county,  &  Queensbury,  Warren  county,  N.  Y.  1871 

Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.  1872-73 

Seneca  county,  N.  Y.  1867-68 

Steuben  county,  N.  Y.  1868-69 

Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.  1872-73 

Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.  1868 

Wayne  county,  N.  Y.  1867-68 

Wyoming  county,  N.  Y.  1870-71 

Clark,  J.  V.  H.  Onondaga;  or,  Reminiscences  of 
earlier  and  later  times.    Syracuse  1849. 

Cleaveland,  Stafford  C.  History  of  Yates  county. 
Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  1873. 

Comley,  W.  J.  History  of  the  state  of  New  York. 
N.  Y.  1877. 

Cowles,  G:  W.    Landmarks     of    Wayne  county. 

Syracuse  1895. 
Delafield,    John.    General   view   and  agricultural 

survey  of  the  county  of  Seneca.    {See  New  York 

agricultural  report,  1850)    Albany  1851. 
Documents  relating  to  the  colonial  history  of  the 

state  of  New  York,  arranged  by  E.  B.  O'Callaghan. 

V.1-15.    Albany  1853-87. 
Doty,  L.  L.    History  of  Livingston  county.  Gene- 

seo  1876. 

Dudley,  W.  R.    Cayuga  flora.    Ithaca,  N.  Y.  1886. 

Eager,  S:  W.  Outline  history  of  Orange  county. 
Newburgh,  N.  Y.  1846-47. 

French,  J.  H.  Gazetteer  of  New  York.  Syracuse 
i860.    R.  P.  Smith. 

Frey,  S.  L.  Were  they  mound  builders?  {see  Amer- 
ican naturalist,    v.  13.  1879) 

Frothingham,  Washington,  ed.  History  of  Fulton 
county.    Syracuse  1892, 

Furman,  Gabriel.  Antiquities  of  Long  Island;  ed. 
by  Frank  Moore.    N.  Y.  1875. 


8 

Gay 

Goodwin 

Gould 

Gre«n 

Hammond 

Harper's 
Harris 

Hatch 

Hildburgh 

Hinsdale 

Hist.  mag. 
Hist.  Gre«ne  oo. 

Hough 
Howell 

Jesuit  relations 

Johnson 

Jones 

Larkin 

licclerq 

Macauley 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Gay,  W.  B.    Historical  gazetteer  of  Tioga  county, 

1785-1888.    Syracuse,  N.  Y.  1887. 
Goodwin,  H.  C.    Pioneer    history;     or,  Cortland 

county  and  the  border  wars  of  New  York.    N.  Y. 

1859. 

Gould,  Jay.   History   of   Delaware   county.  Rox- 

bury,  N.  Y.  [?]  1856. 
Green,  F.  B.    History  of  Rockland  county.    N.  Y. 

1884. 

Hammond,  Mrs  L.  M.    History  of  Madison  county. 

Syracuse  1872. 
Harper's  magazine. 

Harris,  G:  H.  Aboriginal  occupation  of  the  lower 
Genesee  country.    Rochester  1884. 

First  issued  in  Semi-centennial  history  of  Rochester,  ch.  1-15 
1884. 

Hatch,  Joel,  Jr.  Reminiscences,  anecdotes  and  sta- 
tistics of  the  early  settlers  and  the  "  olden  time  " 
in  the  town  of  Sherburne.    Utica  1862. 

Hildburgh,  W.  L. 

Personal  letters  to  Dr  Beauchamp. 

Hinsdale,  W.  G. 

Personal  letters  to  Dr  Beauchamp. 

Historical  magazine.    Morrisania.    N.  Y.  1873. 
History  of  Greene  county.    N.  Y.  1884.    J.  B.  Beers 

&  Co. 

Hough,  F.  B:  History  of  Jefferson  county.  Al- 
bany 1854, 

  History  of  St  Lawrence  and  Franklin 

counties.    Albany  1853. 

Howell,  G:  R.  &  Tenney,  Jonathan,  ^comp.  Bicen- 
tennial history  of  Albany;  history  of  the  county 
of  Albany,  N.  Y.  from  1609-1886.    N.  Y.  i«86. 

Jesuit  relations  and  allied  documents,  1610-1791;  ed. 
by  R.  G.  Thwaites.    Cleveland,  O. 

Johnson,  Crisfield.  Centennial  history  of  Erie 
county.    Buffalo  1876. 

Jones,  Pomroy.  Annals  and  recollections  of  Oneida 
county.    Rome,  N.  Y.  1851. 

Larkin,  Frederick.  Ancient  man  in  America,  n.  p. 
1880. 

Leclerq,  Chretien.    First  establishment  of  the  faith 

in  New  France.    N.  Y.  1881. 
Macauley,  James.    History  of  New  York.    N.  Y. 

1829. 


LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES   REFERRED  TO 


9 


Mandeville 
Mass.  hist. 
Morgan 

Moulton 
Perkins 

Prime 
!Randall 

Regents 


Reynolds 
Scharf 

Schoolcraft.  Ind. 
Schoolcraft,  Report 

9 

Schoonmaker 

Shaw 
Simms 

Smith 

Smith.  Essex 
Smith.  Chenango 
Smith.  Dutchess 
Smithsonian  report 
Squier 

Stone 


Mandeville,  G.  H:  Flushing,  past  and  present;  a 
historical  sketch.    Flushing,  L.  I.  i860. 

Massachusetts  historical  society.  Collections.  2d 
series. 

Morgan,        H:     League  of  the  Ho-de-no-sau-nee 

or  Iroquois.    Rochester  1851. 
Moulton,  J.  W.  see  Yates,  J.  V.  N.  &  Moulton,  J.  W. 
Perkins,  G:  H.  Archaeology  of  the  Champlain  valley. 

(see  American  naturalist,    v.  13.  1879) 
Prime,  N.  S.    History  of  Long  Island.    N.  Y.  1845- 
Randall,  S.  S.    (see  Historical  magazine.    1873.  p. 

13) 

Regents   report.     185 1.     (see    Senate  documents. 

1851.    no.  72) 
  1859.     (see    Senate    documents.  i860. 

no.  89) 

Reynolds,  H.  L.    Mound  explorations,    (see  U.  S. 

bureau  of  ethnology,  Rep't  of.    1890-91.    p.  512) 
Scharf,  J:  T.   History  of  Westchester  county.  Phil. 

1886. 

Schoolcraft,  H:  R.  Historical  and  statistical  in- 
formation respecting  the  history,  conditions  and 
prospects  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  United  States. 
6v.    Phil.  1851-57.  Lippincott. 

  Notes  on  the  Iroquois.     N.  Y.  1846. 

Bartlett  and  Welford. 

Back  title  reads  Refyort  07i  the  Iroquois. 

Schoonmaker,  Marius.  History  of  Kingston.  N.  Y. 
1888. 

Shaw,  S:  M.   cd.    Centennial  offering.    N.  Y.  1886. 
Simms,  J.  R.     History  of  Schoharie  county.  Al- 
bany 1845. 
Smith,  Harlan  I. 

Personal  letters  to  Dr  Beauchatnp. 

Smith,  H.  P.  History  of  Essex  county.  Syracuse 
1885. 

Smith,  James  H.  History  of  Chenango  county. 
1880. 

Smith,  P.  H:    General  history  of  Dutchess  county. 

Pawling.  N.  Y.  1877. 
Smithsonian  institution    Regents,   board  of. 

Annual  report. 
Squier,  E.  G.    Antiquities  of  the  state  of  New  York 

with  a  supplement  on  the  antiquities  of  the  west. 

Buffalo  1 85 1. 

Stone,  W.  L.  Reminiscences  of  Saratoga.  N.  Y. 
1875. 


10 

Sullivan 

Sylvester 
Thompson 

Towner 

Turner,  P.  &  G. 
Turner,  HoL 

TJ.  S.  bur.  of  eth. 

Watson 

Welse 

Wilkinson 

Wright 
Yates 

Young 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Sullivan's  Indian  expedition.  New  York  state — 
Dep't  of  state.  Journals  of  the  military  expedition 
of  Gen.  John  Sullivan  against  the  Six  Nations  of 
Indians  in  1779.    Auburn  1887.    Pub.  by  state. 

Sylvester,  N".  B.  History  of  Ulster  county. 
Phil.  1880. 

Thompson,  B:  F.  History  of  Long  Island.  N.  Y. 
1839. 

Second  edition  1843. 

Towner,  J.  A.  Our  county  and  its  people;  a  history 
of  the  county  and  valley  of  Chemung.  Syracuse 
1892. 

Turner,  0.  History  of  the  pioneer  settlement  of  the 
Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase.    Rochester  1852. 

  Pioneer  history  of  the  Holland  purchase 

of  Western  New  York.    Buffalo  1849. 

Second  edition  1850. 

U.  S.   bureau  of  ethnology,   Rep't  of.  1890-91. 

Report  on  the  mound  explorations  of  the  bureau 
of  ethnology.    By  Cyrus  Thomas. 

Watson,  W.  C.  Military  and  civil  history  of  the 
county  of  Essex,  N.  Y.    Albany  1869. 

Weise,  A.  J.  History  of  the  city  of  Albany.  Al- 
bany 1884. 

Wilkinson,  J.  B.  Annals  of  Binghamton.  N.  Y. 
1840. 

Second  edition  1872. 

Wright,  Asher.  (see  French's  Gazetteer  of  New 
York) 

Yates,  J:  V.  "N.  &  Moulton,  J.  W.  History  of  the 
state  of  New  York;  including  its  aboriginal  and 
colonial  annals;  published  by  A.  T.  Goodrich. 
N.  Y.  1824 

Young,  A.  W.  History  of  Chautauqua.  Buffalo 
X875. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


II 


TERRITORIES  OF  THE  ABORIGINAL  NATIONS  OF 

NEW  YORK 

The  colonists  of  New  York  found  its  territory  occupied  by  two 
distinct  families  of  Indians  having  many  local  divisions  but  forming 
two  great  groups  as  far  as  land  was  concerned.  From  Lake  Cham- 
plain  on  the  north  a  long  and  narrow  triangle  would  represent  the 
homes  of  the  Algonquins,  following  the  valley  of  the  Hudson,  reach- 
ing the  Delaware  on  the  west  and  including  the  New  England  line 
and  all  Long  Island.  All  the  New  England  aborigines,  those 
farther  south  and  near  the  sea,  with  those  of  Virginia,  were  of  the 
same  great  family.  This  line  from  Lake  Champlain  to  the  Dela- 
ware crossed  the  Mohawk  above  Schenectady,  and  i?.ll  west  of  this, 
with  most  of  Pennsylvania  was  occupied  by  Iroquoian  nations. 
They  differed  essentially  from  the  others  in  language  as  well  as  in 
habits. 

Colonization  soon  affected  the  balance  of  power.  Near  the  coast 
lands  were  bought  and  tribes  dispossessed.  In  the  interior  the  Iro- 
quois procured  guns,  conquered  their  foes  and  took  their  lands. 
Within  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  all  western  New  York, 
northern  Ohio  and  much  of  Pennsylvania  and  Canada  were  theirs. 
They  had  changed  the  map  and  to  show  the  true  aboriginal  dis- 
tribution it  seems  needful  to  go  back  to  the  beginning  of  the  17th 
century.  The  territorial  bounds  given  are  not  claimed  to  be  exact 
in  every  detail  and  yet  are  based  on  many  facts.  Field  work^  early 
maps  and  travels,  topographic  features,  traditions  and  relics  are 
among  these.  It  must  be  remembered  that  a  large  part  of  each 
territory  was  not  a  home  but  a  hunting  ground. 

The  Fries  on  the  west  may  first  claim  our  attention.  Tliey  are 
variously  placed  south  of  Lake  Erie  and  inland,  traditionally  and 
probably  reaching  the  head  waters  of  the  Genesee  river.  They  were 
destroyed  in  1654  and  many  of  the  survivors  were  adopted  by  the 
Iroquois.    Their  southern  and  western  limits  are  not  shown  here. 

North  of  their  territory  and  east  of  the  Niagara  river  and  Lake 
Erie  were  the  Attiwandaronks  or  Neutrals,  most  of  whose  villages 
were  in  Canada.    As  the  Iroquois  grew  in  power  on  the  east  they 


12 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


took  the  alarm  and  gradually  withdrew  their  New  York  towns  to 
a  safer  position  west  of  Niagara  river.  At  one  time  they  may  have 
had  a  considerable  population  on  the  east  side.  The  names  of  some 
of  these  villages  have  survived.  On  the  map  illustrating  the  travels 
of  Marquette  and  Joliet  we  have  here  "  Ka  Kouagoga,  nation 
detruite."  Creuxius's  map  of  1660  places  Pagus  Ondiasacus  and  P. 
Ondieronii  just  east  of  Niagara  river  and  P.  Ondataius  west  of  the 
Genesee.  Eighteen  Mile  creek  has  its  Seneca  name  from  the  Kah 
Kwahs  who  were  of  the  Iroquoian  family  also.  This  seems  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  Neutrals. 

Another  nation  of  the  same  family  occupied  the  southern  line  of 
New  York,  along  the  Susquehanna  and  its  larger  branches.  On 
very  early  maps  they  appear  as  the  Gachoi  or  Gachoos:  close 
to  them  were  the  Capitanasses.  Their  Iroquois  foes  gave  them 
scant  room  in  New  York  but  they  were  in  close  alliance  with  others 
of  the  family  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  Five  Nations  were  the  Iroquois  proper,  forming  a  con- 
federacy a  little  before  1600  A.  D.  Their  western  line  was  then 
the  Genesee  river  but  in  a  man's  lifetime  their  conquests  reached  the 
Mississippi.  The  Sonnontouan  or  Seneca  territory  lay  east  of  the 
Genesee  river  and  reached  the  high  land  between  Cayuga  and 
Seneca  lakes.  Originally  it  extended  but  little  south  of  the  more 
western  group  of  lakes.  They  were  comparatively  early  occupants. 
It  is  not  unlikely  that  their  territory  may  have  included  the 
Genesee  valley  at  that  time,  but  they  had  no  villages  then  west  of 
the  river,  which  was  practically  their  boundary  line  until  the 
Neutrals  withdrew. 

The  Cayugas,  who  had  several  names  when  first  known,  had 
Owasco  lake  on  their  east  side.  By  right  of  conquest  they  at  last 
reached  the  Susquehanna. 

The  early  Onondaga  boundary  on  the  east  was  Chittenango 
creek,  and  one  of  their  earliest  towns  was  little  over  a  mile  west  of 
Cazenovia  lake.  Following  the  creek  the  line  crossed  Oneida  lake 
and  passed  through  Oswego  and  Jefferson  counties,  in  the  last  of 
which  they  claim  origin. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


13 


The  Oneidas  lived  mainly  on  Oneida  creek  and  in  its  vicinity, 
but  their  territory  extended  east  of  Utica,  following  a  generally 
north  and  south  line  as  its  eastern  boundary.  The  northern  half 
was  a  wilderness.    Some  place  the  boundary  at  Littlefalls. 

The  Mohawks  were  about  two  days  journey  west  of  the  Hudson 
and  thus  far  the  Mahikans  claimed.  Before  1626,  however,  the 
Mohawks  had  a  castle  east  of  Schoharie  creek  from  which  they 
were  driven.  Thence  to  the  Hudson  was  a  border  land  always  un- 
occupied in  time  of  war.  During  this  war  Saratoga  came  into 
Mohawk  hands  as  was  stated  when  they  sold  it  to  the  whites. 
They  considered  Split  Rock  on  Lake  Champlain  their  northern 
limit,  but  the  whole  west  shore  of  the  lake  was  practically  theirs  as 
the  east  once  had  been. 

The  IMahikans  were  the  most  northern  nation  of  the  Algonquin 
family  in  New  York,  occupying  both  banks  of  the  Hudson  and  for 
some  distance  west  along  its  upper  waters.  Saratoga  was  once  in 
their  territory.  They  claimed  the  land  for  two  days  journey  west 
of  Albany  and  farther  south  their  claim  was  good.  Their  southern 
Hmits  were  below  the  Catskills,  and  some  place  them  still  farther 
south. 

So^ith  of  these  were  several  small  nations  of  this  family  whose 
names  and  locations  are  somewhat  confused.  The  Manhattans  were 
at  New  York  island  and  a  little  above,  the  Pachami  at  Fishkill,  the 
Waoraneaks  at  Esopus,  the  Wappingers  in  the  highlands. 

A  general  early  name  for  the  Long  Island  tribes  was  the  Matou- 
wacks;  though  in  a  way  distinct,  all  came  under  the  sway  of  the 
Montauks.  A  general  classification  will  be  given  following  Wood's 
History  of  Long  Island  without  discussing  minor  points.  He 
assigns  the  Canarsies  to  Kings  county  and  Jamaica;  the  Rockaways 
to  Rockaway,  Newtown  and  Jamaica;  the  IMerikokes  and  Marsa- 
peagues  from  Rockaway  through  Queens  and  into  Suffolk  on  the 
south  side;  the  Matinecocks  from  Flushing  through  Queens  to 
Freshpond  in  Suffolk  on  the  north  side;  the  Nessaquagues  from 
Freshpond  to  Stonybrook;  the  Setaukets  from  Stonybrook  to 
Wading  River;  theCorchaugs  from  Wading  River  through  Southold 
on  the  north  side;  the  Manhansetts  were  on  Shelter  Island;  the  Seca- 


14 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


taugs  reached  from  the  Marsapeagues  to  Patchogue;  the  Patchogues 
to  Southampton,  while  the  Shinnecocks  dwelt  from  Canoe  place 
to  Montauk,  where  the  Montauks  lived.  There  were  other  unim- 
portant tribes  but  little  known. 

These  territorial  divisions  are  indicated  by  colors  and  confined 
to  one  period.  In  every  part  there  are  traces  of  earlier  nations  more 
or  less  mentioned  in  the  accompanying  notes.  The  boundary  line 
established  in  1768  followed  the  Susquehanna  up  to  Owego. 
Thence  it  ran  due  east  to  the  Delaware  a  little  north  of  the  present 
state  line,  and  up  the  Mohawk  or  west  branch  of  that  river  till  it 
reached  a  point  directly  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Unadilla.  A  line 
due  north  and  mainly  along  that  stream  struck  Wood  creek  west  of 
Fort  Stanwix.  Northward  and  eastward  it  was  determined  by  pre- 
vious purchases. 

Those  familiar  with  Mr  L.  H.  Morgan's  map  of  Ho-de-no-sau- 
nee-ga,  or  the  territory  of  the  people  of  the  Long  House  after  their 
conquests,  will  observe  that  the  boundaries  on  the  small  map  show- 
ing national  distribution  differ  somewhat  from  his,  partly  from 
showing  an  earlier  condition,  but  for  other  reasons  as  well.  That 
eminent  writer  said,  "A  boundary  line  would  seem  at  first  to  be 
a  difficult  problem  in  Indian  geography.  But  a  peculiar  custom  of 
our  predecessors  has  divested  this  subject  of  much  of  its  embarrass- 
ment, and  enabled  us  to  ascertain  with  considerable  certainty  the 
territorial  limits  of  the  nations  of  the  league.  The  Iroquois  rejected 
all  natural  boundaries,  and  substituted  meridianal  lines.  This 
appears  to  have  resulted  from  the  custom  of  establishing  them- 
selves upon  both  banks  of  the  streams  upon  which  they  resided.  .  . 
Inland  lakes  were  never  divided  by  a  boundary  line;  but  the  line 
itself  was  so  deflected,  that  the  entire  circuit  of  each  lake  might  be 
possessed  by  a  single  nation.  The  natural  limits  which  rivers  and 
lakes  might  furnish  having  been  thus  disregarded,  and  straight  lines 
substituted,  the  inquiry  is  freed  from  some  of  its  difficulties." 

Mr  Morgan,  however,  forgot  that  irregular  ridges  instead  of 
streams,  sometimes  become  boundaries,  though  straight  lines  might 
be  carried  along  or  over  these.  Another  matter  was  overlooked, 
that  national  boundaries  changed  from  time  to  time  by  mutual 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  1 5 

agreement.  Aside  from  conquest  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  this. 
In  1654  and  later,  the  foot  of  Oneida  lake  was  certainly  in  the 
territory  of  the  Onondagas,  their  village  there  being  well  known 
for  50  years.  Yet  at  a  later  day  the  Oneidas  not  only  held  the 
lake,  but  reserved  a  fishing  place  on  its  outlet,  three  miles  below. 
Deep  Spring  was  certainly  on  the  line  between  the  Oneidas  and 
Onondagas  after  the  revolution,  but  it  is  almost  as  evident  that 
the  Onondagas  at  one  time  owned  Cazenovia  lake  and  its  outlet. 
Mr  Morgan  himself  divided  Cross  lake  by  the  eastern  line  of  the 
Cayugas,  while  the  Onondagas  had  clearings  west  of  it.  He  also 
placed  Sodus  bay,  well  known  as  the  Bay  of  the  Cayugas,  in  the 
Seneca  territory.  The  Cayugas  themselves  at  one  time  had  villages 
north  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  on  the  Susquehanna  at  a  later  day. 

It  will  be  seen,  also,  that  the  Mahikans  are  here  placed  on  both 
sides  of  the  Hudson^  at  Albany  and  vicinity.  Wassenaer  wrote 
distinctly  of  "the  Maikans,  a  nation  lying  25  (Dutch)  miles  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  upwards."  They  alone  sold  Killian  Van 
Rensselaer  a  tract  of  two  days  inland  on  each  side  of  the  river; 
a  map  of  his  patent  will  show  very  nearly  their  western  claims.  At 
the  Saratoga  purchase,  in  1683,  some  Mahikans  were  present  and 
quit-claimed  any  titles  to  those  lands,  which  the  Mohawks  had  con- 
quered from  them.  Their  lands  extended  into  Massachusetts,  where 
they  took  refuge  in  1630.  They  were  Algonquins,  having  close 
family  relations  with  those  east  and  south  of  them.  The  Minsis  or 
Munseys  were  of  the  same  stock,  being  a  part  of  the  Delaware 
people.  Though  distinguished  locally^  the  tribes  from  Kingston  to 
Westchester  county  are  often  classed  as  Esopus  Indians. 

The  Susquehanna  river  was  held  in  Pennsylvania  by  the  Iroquois 
family.  Of  these  the  Gachoi,  or  Gachoos,  alone  had  land  in  New 
York^  nor  did  they  live  there  long.  Below  them  were  the 
Capitanasses  and  the  Minquas;  the  latter  being  the  Andastes  of 
the  French.  Collectively  and  later,  all  these  were  known  to  the 
English  as  Susquehannas  or  Conestogas. 

A  brief  summary  is  given  of  the  traces  of  aboriginal  occupation 
near  the  boundaries  of  New  York  but  outside  of  the  line.  South 
of  Lake  Champlain  and  in  New  England  the  Algonquin  sites  pre- 


l6  '  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

sent  little  of  interest.    The  same  may  be  said  of  New  Jersey  and 
eastern  Pennsylvania.    Mr  Squier  observed  that  above  Wilkesbarre, 
"  still  further  to  the  northv^est,  near  the  borders  of  New  York  and 
forming  an  unbroken  chain  with  the  works  of  that  state,  are  found 
other  remains."    These  extended  still  farther  south  and  passed  into 
Ohio  near  Lake  Erie.    The  line  reached  Toledo,  and  many  of  the 
simple  earthworks  had  double  walls.    West  of  Niagara  river  there 
was  a  line  of  earthworks  commencing  on  the  east  of  Elgin 
county,  Canada,  and  nearly  reaching  Detroit.    Early  and  recent 
ossuaries  were  frequent  at    the  west  end  of  Lake  Ontario  and 
northward  into  the  Huron  country.    This  was  in  Simcoe  county, 
Canada^  where  Mr  A,  F.  Hunter  some  years  ago  located  218 
villages  and  122"  ossuaries.    Some  have  been  added  since,  and 
in  1899  he  published  accounts  of  49  villages  and  24  ossuaries 
in  the  town  of  Tiny  and  vicinity.     On  both  sides  of  the  Bay 
of  Quinte  was  a  group  of  curious  mounds,  usually  arranged 
in   pairs   and   mostly   built   of   stone.     They   reach   from  the 
east  line  of  the  early  Huron  territory  to  Deseronto,  Mounds 
of  a  different  character  are  found  on  the  banks  and  islands 
of  the  St  Lawrence,  and  another  group  of  earthworks  occurs  near 
Prescott.    These  are  of  the  Iroquois  type.    Scattered  camps  occur 
below  these,  and  at  Montreal  the  early  seat  of  the  Mohawks  is 
confidently  placed.    Relics  are  not  numerous  there.    Some  distance 
below  that  city  in  1636  the  Canadian  Indians  pointed  out  spots 
where  the  Iroquois  had  recently  lived.    Prof.  George  H.  Perkins 
said  that  on  the  Vermont  side  of  Lake  Champlain  "  remains  of 
ancient  settlements  are  very  rare,  and  there  is  no  sure  evidence  of 
long  continued  occupation  of  any  locality  near  the  lake."  At 
Swanton  he  found  a  cemetery  with  long  stone  tubes  and  native 
copper  beads,  similar  to  those  of  the  Mohawk  valley. 

One  excellent  work  has  not  been  quoted,  and  yet  deserves  atten- 
tion. This  is  the  History  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  Hudson  river,  by 
E.  M.  Ruttenber,  1872.  This  judiciously  classifies  these  tribes,  their 
homes  and  changes,  and  may  be  consulted  with  great  advantage, 
and  in  the  main  with  full  confidence.  A  single  error  of  importance 
is  one  on  page  69,  where  he  identifies  the  Minquas  with  the  Minsis, 
both  names  being  Algonquin  words,  and  thus  easily  confused. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  17 

ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 

Gov.  DeWitt  Clinton  was  the  first  to  treat  of  the  New  York 
earthworks  in  a  prominent  way,  and  his  memoir  on  them  was  long 
a  standard.  His  accounts  are  good,  but  necessarily  brief  and  with 
some  natural  errors.  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  had  previously  de- 
scribed some  forts  in  the  Seneca  country,  often  quoted  from  his 
journal.  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins  described  an  earthwork  in  Onon- 
daga county  in  1802,  and  Rev.  John  Taylor  gave  accounts  and  plans 
of  several  forts  in  Jefferson  county  in  the  same  year.  The  illustra- 
tions of  these  are  very  regular  in  form  and  nearly  all  can  be  located. 
His  journal  appears  in  the  third  volume  of  the  New  York  docu- 
mentary history. 

Brief  notes  relating  to  this  class  of  antiquities  will  be  found  in 
other  early  journals,  some  being  of  much  value.  Others  appear  in 
the  various  town  and  county  histories  published  during  the  last 
half  century.  Josiah  Priest's  odd  and  popular  work  on  American 
antiquities  contains  notices  of  a  few,  all  at  second-hand  and  with 
curious  deductions.  Some  are  grouped  and  described  in  James 
Macauley's  History  of  New  York.  Joshua  V.  H.  Clark's  Onondaga; 
or,  Rq^niniscences  of  earlier  and  later  times,  marked  an  era  in  the 
illustration  and  description  of  early  works.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  his  plans  of  these  were  not  more  carefully  prepared,  but  for 
some  of  them  he  depended  on  other  men.  His  dimensions  are 
often  doubled,  but  his  accounts  are  of  great  value. 

Mr  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft  gave  notes  on  a  few  New  York  an- 
tiquities in  his  report  on  the  Iroquois,  with  plans  and  descriptions 
in  his  well-known  style.  Something  may  be  gathered  from  these. 
Then  came  Mr  E.  G.  Squier's  judicious  work,  devoted  entirely  to 
the  subject,  and  at  once  affecting  prevailing  opinions.  He  repro- 
duced Mr  Clark's  matter,  but  wisely  omitted  some  of  his  plans. 
His  own  careful  field  work  stands  every  test,  though  limited  by 
means  and  time.  His  book  gives  a  general  view  of  New  York 
antiquities  which  is  now  of  priceless  value.  The  surveys  were  care- 
fully made  and  the  conclusions  sound,  his  opinions  having  changed 
after  he  wrote  on  the  monuments   of  the  Mississippi  valley. 


l8  NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

F.  B.  Hough  did  good  work  in  his  histories  and  reports,  being 
our  fullest  authority  on  the  antiquities  of  northern  New  York. 
A.  T.  Cheney  prepared  a  paper  for  the  regents  reports,  on  the 
earthworks  of  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua  counties.  All  wish  that 
these  reports  had  been  extended.  L.  H.  Morgan's  League  of  the 
Ho-dc-no-sau-nee  or  Iroqicois  has  a  map  of  their  home  territory  with 
recent  trails.  Of  the  early  homes  and  history  of  that  great  people 
he  said  little,  but  as  a  record  of  later  Seneca  life  in  every  phase  his 
work  is  priceless.  It  takes  little  note  of  any  Indian  towns  before 
the  revolution. 

Dr  Frederick  Larkin's  Ancient  man  in  America  adds  much  from 
his  own  field  work  to  Mr  Cheney's  account  of  Cattaraugus  county. 
Rev.  Robert  Bolton's  History  of  the  county  of  Westchester  has  a 
long  list  of  sites,  mostly  of  recent  date.  L.  L.  Doty's  History 
of  Livingston  county  gives  an  extended  account  of  places  occupied 
in  that  part  of  the  Seneca  territory.  George  H.  Harris  has  ably 
and  fully  dealt  with  the  still  earlier  occupation  of  the  lower  Genesee 
valley,  where  he  was  a  conscientious  worker^  and  in  Andrew 
W.  Young's  History  of  Chautauqua  some  additional  matter  will 
be  found.  Onondaga's  centennial  contains  a  full  account  of  that  in- 
teresting field  by  Rev.  W.  M.  Beauchamp,  in  which  the  important 
camp  sites,  so  little  understood  before,  have  a  place.  S.  L.  Frey 
has  ably  described  notable  sites  in  the  Mohawk  valley,  the  most 
recently  occupied  of  any  part  of  New  York.  Valuable  facts  have 
come  from  other  authorities  yet  to  be  quoted.  In  the  initial  work 
of  showing  the  connection  between  abandoned  sites  and  historic 
events  and  times,  great  credit  is  due  to  Gen.  John  S.  Clark  of 
Auburn.  By  actual  field  work  and  vigorous  reasoning,  he  solved 
many  mysteries,  and  traced  back  the  Iroquois  in  their  migrations 
for  nearly  300  years.  The  benefit  was  not  merely  in  his  own  per- 
sonal investigations.  He  directed  others  aright  and  their  work 
became  more  definite  and  yielded  better  results. 

A  few  years  ago  Cyrus  Thomas  was  employed  in  preparing 
an  account  of  the  earthworks  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and 
engaged  Rev.  W.  M.  Beauchamp  to  report  on  the  Huron-Iroquois 
territory  in  general,  but  more  particularly  on  that  comprised  within 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  I9 

New  York.  A  map  accompanied  the  manuscript  report  and  out 
of  this  grew  a  more  extended  description,  taking  in  the  whole  state, 
with  both  Iroquois  and  Algonquin  villages,  and  earlier  towns, 
camps  and  burial  places.  This  has  been  gradually  enlarged  from 
time  to  time,  though  still  capable  of  expansion.  Several  counties 
have  been  minutely  explored  and  much  material  was  thus  prepared 
for  publication,  but  other  counties  have  had  so  little  attention  that 
no  complete  account  can  yet  be  given.  A  few^  months'  field  work 
might  yield  some  important  results,  but  much  information  has  been 
rapidly  gathered  from  intelligent  and  experienced  correspondents. 
There  has  been  however  a  demand  in  the  present  work  for  at  least 
a  preliminary  map  of  the  early  aboriginal  occupation  of  New  York, 
which  may  prove  the  simplest  and  quickest  preparation  for  some- 
thing more  complete.  The  following  notes  are  arranged  by  coun- 
ties, with  proper  numbers  for  each.  Quotations  are  made  from 
many  works,  usually  with  references,  as  a  full  transcript  would 
often  occupy  too  much  space.  Many  uncredited  accounts  are  the 
result  of  the  writer's  own  field  work  or  research,  continued  through 
many  years.  Other  notes  may  be  adopted  according  to  the  faith 
reposed  in  their  authors. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  Mr  Squier's  change  of  opinion  re- 
garding New  York  earthw^orks.  His  words  in  regard  to  these  may 
well  be  quoted  here,  as  they  appear  in  his  Antiquities  of  New  York 
and  the  west,  published  in  1851.  On  page  9  he  says,  in  speaking 
of  earlier  writers  whom  he  had  mentioned,  By  none  were  pre- 
sented plans  from  actual  surveys,  of  any  of  the  ancient  works  of 
the  state;  a  deficiency  which,  it  is  evident,  could  not  be  supplied 
by  descriptions,  however  full  and  accurate,  and  without  which  it 
has  been  found  impossible  to  institute  the  comparisons  requisite 
to  correct  conclusions  as  to  the  date,  origin  and  probable  connec- 
tions of  these  remains.  It  has  all  along  been  represented  that  some 
of  the  inclosures  were  of  regular  outlines,  true  circles  and  ellipses, 
and  accurate  squares,  features  which  would  imply  a  common  origin 
with  the  vast  system  of  ancient  earthworks  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 
Submitted  to  the  test  of  actual  survey,  I  have  found  that  the  works 
which  were  esteemed  entirely  regular  are  the  very  reverse,  and 


20 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


that  the  builders,  insteacTof  constructing  them  upon  geometric  prin- 
ciples, regulated  them  entirely  by  the  nature  of  the  ground  upon 
which  they  were  built.  And  I  may  here  mention,  that  none  of  the 
ancient  works  of  this  state,  of  which  traces  remain  displaying  any 
considerable  degree  of  regularity,  can  lay  claim  to  high  antiquity. 
All  of  them  may  be  referred  with  certainty  to  the  period  succeeding 
the  commencement  of  European  intercourse." 

In  the  main  these  statements  are  true.  The  nature  of  the  surface 
usually  affects  the  outline  of  the  work,  but  within  a  radius  of  a 
few  miles  the  writer  has  examined  three  earthworks  and  one  stock- 
ade on  level  ground,  where  the  inclosure  was  a  true  circle,  and  all 
were  prehistoric.  But  the  Iroquois,  whatever  their  relations  to 
them,  were  descendants  neither  of  the  so-called  mound  builders,  nor 
of  any  of  the  earlier  visitors  in  New  York.  A  study  of  their  relics 
makes  this  evident. 

In  regard  to  the  situation  of  New  York  earthworks,  IMr  Squier 
says,  on  page  lo,  "  Mr  Clinton  was  unable  to  learn  of  the  occur- 
rence of  any  remains  upon  the  first  terrace  back  from  the  lakes, 
and  upon  the  basis  of  the  assumed  fact  of  their  non-existence,  ad- 
vanced the  opinion  that  the  subsidence  of  the  lakes  and  the  forma- 
tion of  this  terrace  had  taken  place  since  these  were  erected — a 
chronologic  period  which  I  shall  not  attempt  to  measure  by  years. 
This  deduction  has  been  received,  I  believe,  by  every  succeeding 
writer  upon  the  subject  of  our  antiquities,  without  any  attempt  to 
verify  the  assumption  upon  which  it  rests.  I  have  however  found 
that  the  works  occur  indiscriminately  on  the  first  and  on  the 
superior  terraces,  as  also  on  the  islands  of  the  lakes  and  rivers." 

On  pages  138-40,  he  discusses  the  question  as  to  the  builders  of 
these  works.  The  relics  were  "  identical  with  those  which  mark 
the  sites  of  towns  and  forts  known  to  have  been  occupied  by  the 
Indians,  within  the  historic  period.  The  pottery  taken  from  these 
sites  and  from  within  the  supposed  ancient  inclosures,  is  alike  in 
all  respects,  the  pipes  and  ornaments  arc  undistinguishable,  and  the 
indications  of  aboriginal  dwellings  are  precisely  similar  and  so 
far  as  can  be  discovered,  have  equal  claim  to  antiquity.  Near  many 
of  these  works  are  found  cemeteries  in  which  well  preserved  skel- 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF  NEW  YORK 


21 


etons  are  contained,  and  which,  except  in  the  absence  of  remains 
of  European  art,  differ  in  no  respect  from  the  cemeteries  found 
in  connection  with  the  abandoned  modern  towns  and  castles  of  the 
Indians.  .  .  I  am  aware  that  the  remnants  of  the  Indian  stock 
which  still  exist  in  the  state,  generally  profess  total  ignorance  of 
these  works.  I  do  not  however  attach  much  importance  to  this 
circumstance.  When  we  consider  the  extreme  likeUhood  of  the 
forgetfulness  of  ancient  practices,  in  the  lapse  of  300  years,  the  lack 
of  knowledge  upon  this  point  is  the  weakest  of  all  negative  evi- 
dence." 

The  writer  is  fully  in  accord  with  Mr  Squier  on  all  these  points, 
and  can  not  forbear  quoting  a  story  from  Schoolcraft's  report  on 
the  Iroquois,  page  211,  "Abraham  Le  Fort  says  that  Ondiaka  was 
the  great  chronicler  of  his  tribe.  He  had  often  heard  him  speak 
of  the  traditions  of  his  father.  On  his  last  journey  to  Oneida  he 
accompanied  him.  As  they  passed  south  by  Jamesville  and  Pom- 
pey^  Ondiaka  told  him  that  in  ancient  times,  and  before  they  fixed 
down  at  Onondaga,  they  lived  at  these  spots.  That  it  was  before 
the  Five  Nations  had  confederated,  but  while  they  kept  up  a 
separate  existence  and  fought  with  each  other.  At  length  they 
confederated,  and  then  the  fortifications  were  no  longer  necessary 
and  lell  into  disuse.  This  is  the  origin,  he  believes,  of  these  old 
works,  which  are  not  of  foreign  origin."  They  actually  passed  the 
villages  of  1654  and  1696.  Other  traditions  were  still  farther  out 
of  the  way. 

Mr  Squier  states  his  change  of  opinion  on  pages  11  and  140: 
"  Misled  by  statements  which  no  opportunity  was  afiforded  of  veri- 
fying, I  have  elsewhere  though  in  a  guarded  manner  ventured  the 
opinion  that  the  ancient  remains  of  western  New  York  belonged 
to  the  same  system  with  those  of  Ohio  and  the  west  generally.  .  . 
In  full  view  of  the  facts  before  presented,  I  am  driven  to  a  conclu- 
sion little  anticipated  when  I  started  upon  my  exploration  of  the 
monuments  of  the  state,  that  the  earthworks  of  western  New  York 
were  erected  by  the  Iroquois  or  their  western  neighbors,  and 
do  not  possess  an  antiquity  going  very  far  back  of  the  discovery." 
He  thought  the  small  earthworks  of  northern  Ohio  belonged  to 


22 


NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 


the  same  recent  period  and  people.  With  one  statement  of  the 
result  of  his  work,  Mr  Squier  may  be  left  for  the  present:  In 
the  short  period  of  eight  weeks  devoted  to  the  search,  I  was  enabled 
to  ascertain  the  localities  of  not  less  than  lOO  ancient  works,  and 
to  visit  and  make  surveys  of  half  that  number.  From  the  facts 
which  have  fallen  under  my  notice,  I  feel  warranted  in  estimating 
the  number  which  originally  existed  in  the  state  at  from  200  to  250." 
Nearly  the  latter  number  of  defensive  earthworks  and  mounds  alone 
are  now  known.  The  total  will  not  be  far  above  his  estimate  unless 
he  included  simple  stockades. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Iroquois  sites  formed  distinct  groups  in 
their  early  territory.  Each  of  the  historic  Five  Nations  thus  ap- 
pears, but  there  are  other  groups  as  well.  Nearly  all  the  Algonquin 
tribes  were  near  the  Hudson  river  or  by  the  sea.  In  Jefferson 
county  is  a  very  large  group  of  the  Iroquois  type;  near  Buffalo 
is  another  of  the  same  character  and  in  Cattaraugus  and  Chautau- 
qua counties  still  another.  Camps  and  small  hamlets  usually  follow 
the  less  elevated  lakes  and  rivers,  where  fishing  was  good  and 
travel  easy.  Few  sites  are  found  on  Lake  Ontario,  because  villages 
there  would  have  been  too  much  exposed  to  enemies,  and  canoes 
to  frequent  storms.  Forts  were  usually  on  high  land,  remote  from 
large  streams,  but  not  invariably.  Trails  crossed  rivers  at  well- 
known  fords,  which  became  favorite  stopping  places.  Paths 
varied  as  villages  were  removed,  and  were  determined  by  the  nature 
of  the  land.  When  long  used  they  were  worn  deeply  in  the  earth, 
and  some  still  remain. 

The  location  of  aboriginal  dwellings  depended  on  a  variety  of 
circumstances.  In  a  certain  way  those  nations  termed  sedentary  and 
agricultural  were  migratory,  moving  their  towns  every  10  or  12 
years.  When  the  land  was  worn  out  or  wood  was  too  far  off,  the 
women  gave  the  signal,  and  the  town  went  elsewhere.  Sometimes 
it  was  but  a  mile  or  two,  often  much  more.  Other  migrations  were 
less  formal.  The  Onondagas  entered  that  valley  a  few  at  a  time, 
and  gradually  crossed  to  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  in  the  first 
half  of  the  i8th  century.  In  times  of  war  defensive  positions  were 
chosen  on  the  hills,  and  these  were  quite  retired  if  the  nation  was 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


23 


weak.  In  such  cases  a  favorite  place  was  on  a  ridge  between  two 
deep  ravines.  When  peace  came,  or  the  nation  grew  strong,  more 
accessible  towns  were  built  on  lower  lands.  This  was  notably  the 
case  with  the  ]\Iohawks  and  Onondagas.  In  any  event  due  regard 
was  had  to  the  soil.  Highland  or  lowland,  our  aborigines  always 
shunned  a  stiff  clay  when  possible,  and  chose  a  sandy  or  gravelly 
loam.  This  was  the  common  rule  even  in  temporary  camps.  Shal- 
low lakes  and  bays,  or  their  shallow  parts  were  preferred  to  deep 
water  as  usually  affording  the  best  fishing  grounds,  and  the  fords 
and  rifts  of  rivers  were  chosen  for  the  same  reason.  Around  such 
spots  successive  camps  or  village  sites  may  appear,  covering  quite 
an  extent  of  time.  In  a  similar  way  the  Huron-Iroquois  were  af- 
fected by  geological  conditions.  Fishing  and  hunting  advantages 
determined  their  camps,  but  their  towns  had  regard  to  the  culture 
of  the  fields.  A  fertile  soil,  easily  worked  but  in  a  secure  situation, 
was  one  of  the  first  requisites.  Of  course  water  must  always  be 
near. 

Ancient  earthworks,  of  which  but  two  or  three  exist  near  the 
Mohawk,  increase  in  frequency  westward,  becoming  numerous  in 
the  territory  of  the  Onondagas,  and  of  their  probable  ancestors  in 
Jefferson  county.  They  are  often  of  a  generally  elliptic  or  circular 
formf  more  or  less  irregular  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
but  sometimes  a  single  straight  or  cunning  bank  defends  a  point 
between  two  ravines.  Usually  there  is  an  outside  ditch,  and  one 
or  more  gates.  It  has  now  been  definitely  ascertained  that  some 
of  these  banks,  at  least,  supported  palisades.  Of  course  there  was 
no  ditch  at  the  gateways. 

Alounds  of  earth  are  extremely  rare  in  the  eastern  counties,  and 
the  few  known  seem  much  older  than  the  Iroquois  occupation. 
Only  one  of  importance  has  been  definitely  reported  east  of  Onon- 
daga lake,  and  some  small  ones  near  the  early  trails  on  and  about  the 
St  Lawrence  river.  From  Onondaga  lake  to  the  western  line  of 
the  state  they  increase  in  frequency.  A  few  ossuaries  occur  in  Jef- 
ferson county,  but  they  are  most  connnon  from  Cayuga  lake  west- 
ward, though  not  frequent  in  any  place.  Instances  of  a  common 
symmetrical  or  radiating  burial  are  occasionally  found.    Rarely  is 


24 


NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 


there  anything  indicating  the  great  Huron  feast  of  the  dead.  Burial 
customs  varied  greatly,  nor  were  the  changes  far  apart  in  time. 
Graves  of  the  early  Iroquois  period  often  contain  no  relics,  and 
are  generally  marked  by  depressions  rather  than  elevations.  Open 
grain  caches  have  been  mistaken  for  these. 

In  historic  times  defensive  works  were  generally  of  palisades, 
peculiarly  arranged  with  upright  and  cross  timbers.  The  quadruple 
Oneida  paHsades  attacked  by  Champlain  in  1615  may  have  required 
no  holes,  and  extended  into  the  shallow  pond.  Some  Mohawk 
palisades  were  double  and  have  left  no  traces.  The  single  or  triple 
paHsade  required  holes  for  the  upright  posts.  In  some,  these  holes 
were  from  18  inches  to  2  feet  deep.  Galleries  ran  along  the  inter- 
secting tops  of  the  pickets.  These  were  reached  by  ladders  from 
within  and  were  useful  in  defense.  The  gates  were  sometimes  sur- 
mounted by  human  figures  or  other  fantastic  designs  carved  in 
wood.  Carvings  or  paintings  often  adorned  the  gables  of  the  long 
houses,  which  were  furnished  with  many  fires.  The  outlines  of 
many  of  these  houses  may  still  he  traced,  but  the  length  was  hardly 
a  national  Iroquois  distinction  as  some  have  supposed.  Circular 
lodges  were  often  used.  Blackened  or  burned  earth  always  appears 
in  an  aboriginal  camp  or  town  of  long  occupation.  The  fireplaces 
of  these  may  be  several  feet  deep,  a  hole  being  made  at  the  outset 
for  the  fire. 

When  New  Y6rk  was  first  known,  all  the  aborigines  living  near 
the  Hudson  river  and  the  ocean  were  of  the  Algonquin  family, 
using  labials  in  their  words,  by  which  they  were  mainly  distin- 
guished from  the  Iroquois.  West  of  this  territory  all  belonged  to 
the  Huron-Iroquois  family,  which  extended  into  Canada,  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania,  without  speaking  of  remote  southern  branches. 
These  used  no  labials,  all  words  being  uttered  with  the  open  mouth. 
Part  of  these  were  the  Five  Nations,  before  whom  the  rest 
soon  disappeared.  These  nations  still  survive  and  are  the  historic 
Iroquois^  comprising  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Cayugas 
and  Senccas.  The  Tuscaroras  were  added  in  1714.  Their  terri- 
tory shows  the  most  abundant  signs  of  occupancy,  but  their  towns 
were  not  of  great  age.    It  must  be  remembered  that  they  built 


ABORIGINAL   OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


25 


nearly  a  hundred  stockades  or  earthworks  in  every  century,  so 
that  the  time  of  their  rule  becomes  a  simple  problem  in  arithmetic. 
After  they  became  intimate  with  the  whites  they  held  their  towns 
somewhat  longer. 

Earlier  than  these  resident  lords  of  the  soil  were  the  visitors  from 
many  parts  of  the  land.  The  historic  importance  of  their  camps 
has  been  hitherto  overlooked  by  writers  in  general,  but  they  are 
deserving  of  the  most  careful  attention,  and  for  this  reason  have 
a  prominent  place  here.  Some  of  these  early  comers  left  curious 
and  beautiful  articles,  of  which  the  Iroquois  knew  absolutely  noth- 
ing, and  of  the  age  of  which  we  ourselves  have  no  very  clear  idea. 
Like  our  summer  sportsmen,  all  however  sought  the  fishing  places, 
for  there  they  found  abundant  food. 

The  arrangement  of  descriptions  of  sites  by  counties  is  somewhat 
arbitrary,  but  this  is  a  matter  of  convenience  rather  than  taste. 
The  natural  grouping  would  be  by  nations,  all  the  Mohawk  sites 
being  described  in  order,  and  the  others  in  the  same  way.  The  result 
would  be  confusion.  The  Onondaga  territory  is  well  known,  but 
during  and  after  the  revolution  they  had  a  large  village  near  Buffalo. 
The  Tuscaroras  once  lived  in  Madison  county,  with  villages  else- 
where. Their  home  is  now  near  the  Niagara  river.  The  Senecas 
are  find  were  in  places  far  apart.  As  for  the  rest,  the  early  comers 
camped  and  traveled  as  they  pleased. 

Unless  a  map  could  be  published  on  a  large  scale,  as  charts  are 
often  prepared  for  private  use  in  archeologic  work,  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  represent  all  sites  large  and  small,  but  several  of  those 
in  close  proximity  may  be  placed  under  one  number.  The  com- 
pilation and  rearrangement  of  plans  scattered  through  many 
volumes  and  the  addition  of  many  others,  will  serve  to  perpetuate 
and  popularize  the  work  of  other  laborers  in  this  field,  whether  liv- 
ing or  dead.  Most  of  such  work  is  done  in  such  an  unselfish  spirit 
that  we  have  little  hesitation  in  availing  ourselves  of  it.  In  fact  so 
much  was  done  directly  in  the  interest  of  the  state,  that  there  is 
already  a  proper  claim  upon  it.  The  new  plans  have  come  from 
many  sources,  professional  or  otherwise,  which  are  more  or  less  ac- 
curate in  detail.    In  all  cases  they  add  much  to  our  knowledge  of 


26 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


the  sites  represented.  I«  nearly  every  part  of  New  York,  men  have 
readily  responded  to  requests  for  new  material,  or  corrections  of  the 
old.  Much  time  and  expense  have  thus  been  saved  by  correspond- 
ence with  persons  familiar  with  local  fields,  whose  knowledge  must 
have  been  sought  in  any  case.  The  judgment  of  some  of  these  is 
that  the  work  of  investigation  has  only  begun  in  the  fields  in  which 
they  work,  and  in  the  state  at  large  this  is  more  clearly  the  case. 
The  accompanying  map  and  the  following  notes  must  be  studied 
with  this  understanding.  It  is  a  preliminary  survey,  full  in  some 
parts,  scanty  in  others,  but  preserving  what  is  known  and  making 
fuller  and  clearer  knowledge  possible  in  days  to  come. 

It  might  have  been  expected  that  in  a  treatise  on  the  early  homes 
of  the  aborigines  of  New  York,  more  w^ould  have  been  said  on  the 
details  of  those  homes.  There  is  no  lack  of  material;  in  fact  there 
is  so  much  that  it  would  have  its  best  place  in  a  paper  specially  de- 
voted to  aboriginal  life.  How  forts  and  houses  were  built,  how 
water  was  provided,  how  fields  were  cleared  and  tilled,  how  lands 
were  divided  and  owned,  may  have  a  definite  relation  to  the  dis- 
tribution of  our  early  tribes,  but  all  these  things  would  seriously 
encroach  on  the  small  space  we  can  now  give  to  the  mere  location 
of  forts,  cemeteries,  camps  and  towns. 

As  a  rule  there  is  little  difficulty  in  distinguishing  Iroquois  habita- 
tions. The  earlier  ones  invariably  have  brown  pottery,  and  usually 
implements  of  bone  and  horn,  with  small  triangular  arrowheads. 
The  Algonquin  settlements  are  restricted  in  range,  and  will  be  found 
in  their  proper  territory  alone,  which  they  entered  almost  simultane- 
ously with  the  Iroquois.  Both  were  very  recent  comers.  There  will 
be  no  attempt  now  to  distinguish  the  earlier  visitors  by  sites  or 
relics.  The  latter  are  generally  scattered,  the  former  were  occupied 
by  several  in  turn.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  camp  sites  have 
revealed  many  unsuspected  facts  concerning  early  life  here. 
Enough  is  known  to  show  the  character  and  tastes  of  these  early 
tourists,  and  often  to  indicate  the  places  whence  they  came.  With 
greater  care  in  investigation  the  sequence  of  their  visits  might  ap- 
pear. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


27 


In  his  Antiquities  of  New  York  Mr  Squier  spoke  of  the  importance 
of  an  earthwork  near  Elmira,  as  showing  the  presence  of  paHsades 
in  these  banks.  Others  of  Hke  character  have  been  since  noticed 
in  several  places.  In  a  letter  to  the  writer  J.  S.  Twining  said  of 
a  Jefiferson  county  earthwork  that  the  ''pickets  had  left  their  forms  in 
the  sand  on  the  inside  of  the  ditch,  and  on  top  of  the  embankment. 
They  had  been  brought  to  a  blunt  point,  and  were  from  six  to  eight 
inches  in  diameter,  and  placed  about  10  inches  apart.  There  were 
simply  the  holes  left  in  the  sand,  which,  as  the  pickets  decayed,  were 
refilled  with  surface  soil.  This  on  carefully  digging  from  the  side 
would  show  each  post's  place,  as  the  color  of  the  sand  differed  from 
the  soil." 

Col.  Charles  Whittlesey,  in  describing  Ohio  works,  doubted 
whether  such  traces  ever  appeared,  and  whether  wood  could  be  long 
preserved.  In  some  cases  it  may.  In  examining  posi-holes  in  one 
fort  to  test  their  depth,  the  writer  found  no  wood  in  the  shallower 
ones.  The  posts  had  been  uprooted  in  falling.  In  a  deeper  one  was 
the  charred  end  of  a  hemlock  picket  which  had  been  there  for  300 
years.  In  another  stockade,  of  50  years  later  date,  pieces  of  oak 
pickets  about  tw^o  feet  long  were  taken  out.  In  the  peculiar  early 
construction  of  Iroquois  forts,  holes  were  not  always  necessary,  and 
seldofn  exceeded  two  feet  in  depth.  The  intervals  depended  on  the 
style  and  strength  of  the  wall.  Usually  the  holes  are  in  a  shallow 
trench,  often  described  as  a  ditch,  though  this  gives  a  wrong  im- 
pression. 

Geographic  distribution  of  sites' 

Albany  county.  'Mr  Schoolcraft  thought  the  Xormanskill,  or 
Tawasentha,  a  place  of  Mohawk  burial,  but  knew  of  no  graves  there. 
Its  mouth  was  not  in  the  ]\Iohawk  territory;  part  of  Albany  county 
having  been  purchased  of  the  Mahikans.  Tawasentha  means  a 
waterfall,  and  there  is  little  ground  for  the  story  of  an  early  general 
council  between  the  Dutch  and  Iroquois  there. 

Trails  led  from  the  Hudson  to  the  western  streams,  and  along  these 
scattered  rolics  are  found,  but  there  were  no  villages  of  importance. 
In  the  state  museum  are  arrowheads  from  Bethlehem,  Guilderland, 


28  NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

Loudonville  and  Watervliet,  and  ceremonial  objects  from  Albany 
and  Bethlehem.  The  principal  trail  was  from  Schenectady  to 
Albany,  and  surface  finds  have  been  made  in  the  sand  fields  between 
Schenectady  and  Karners. 

1  The  Unawat's  castle  is  on  an  island  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mohawk^  on  Van  Rensselaer's  map  of  1630. 

2  A  large  camp  site  is  near  the  arsenal  at  West  Troy,  100  rods 
from  the  river.  Thick  spears^  arrowheads,  scrapers,  net  sinkers,  and 
a  few  ceremonial  stones  are  found. 

3  There  was  much  cleared  land  at  Albany.  Father  Jogues  wrote 
in  1644  that  the  Dutch  "  found  some  pieces  of  ground  all  ready, 
which  the  savages  had  formerly  prepared." 

4  The  Mohawks  afterward  had  a  fishing  place  at  Cohoes,  accord- 
ing to  De  Vries. 

5  A  trail  led  across  the  Helderbergs  to  the  Schoharie  valley. 
The  Indian  Ladder  was  on  the  site  of  the  present  Indian  Ladder 
road,  one  mile  from  Guilderland  station.  In  a  niche  where  the 
rocks  were  20  feet  high  a  tree  was  felled  against  them,  the  lopped 
branches  forming  a  ladder.  It  was  in  use  in  1820. — Harper  s,  Oct. 
1869 

6  There  were  many  relics  in  New  Scotland,  with  camps  at  Clarks- 
ville  and  on  the  Hotaling  farms. — Howell,  p.  908 

7  Camps  along  the  Oniskethau  creek. — Howell,  p.  908 

8  Camps  on  the  Slingerland  flats. — Howell,  p.  908 

9  "Mr  Brayton  says  that  in  digging  the  turnpike  road^  in  ascend- 
ing Kiddenhook  hill,  on  the  road  to  Bethlehem  many  human  bones, 
supposed  to  be  Indian,  were  found.  .  .  at  a  spot  where  the 
soil  is  Hght  and  sandy.  On  the  hill  above  his  house  is  a  level  field, 
where  arrowheads  have  been  found  in  large  numbers." — School- 
craft.   Report,  p.  226 

10  In  Coon's  meadows  on  Catskill  creek  and  on  the  outskirts  of 
Preston  Hollow  the  Stockbridges  had  recent  camps.  This  is  in 
Rensselaerville,  where  there  were  trails  in  171 1. 

11  P.  M.  Van  Epps  notes  some  reHcs  about  the  lakes  in  Knox 
and  Berne.    There  was  a  small  camp  on  Thompson's  lake. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


29 


It  is  said  that  the  Mahikans  had  a  fort  on  an  island  at  Albany 
when  the  Dutch  came  there.  Messrs  Bankers  and  Sluyter  visited 
the  remains  of  a  fort  at  the  end  of  an  island,  thought  to  have  been 
built  by  the  Spaniards.  This  they  did  not  believe  but  said  "  That  a 
fort  has  been  there,  is  evident  enough  from  the  earth  thrown  up." 
It  has  been  recently  claimed  that  this  was  a  French  fort,  built  in 
1540. — Weise,  p.  12.  This  is  supported  by  a  note  found  on  the  map 
of  1614,  thus  translated:  But  as  far  as  one  can  understand  from 
what  the  Maquas  say  and  show,  the  French  come  with  sloops  as 
high  up  as  to  their  country  to  trade  with  them."  There  is  no  men- 
tion here  of  a  fort,  and  the  reference  seems  to  be  to  the  visit  of 
Jacques  Cartier  to  the  jMohawks^  in  1535,  when  they  dwelt  at  Hoche- 
laga  in  Canada.    They  came  into  New  York  late  in  that  century. 

Allegany  county.  i  Caneadea,  the  last  Seneca  village  on  the 
Genesee,  was  at  the  mouth  of  Caneadea  creek. — Morgan,  p.  436.  In 
the  Smithsonian  report  for  1879^  E.  A.  Byrnes  reported  a  ceme- 
tery near  Caneadea  and  at  the  mouth  of  Black  creek.  E.  M. 
Wilson  of  Belfast  wrote  in  1896,  ''Between  15  and  20  years  ago  Mr 
Byrnes  and  I  visited  an  old  Indian  cemetery  which  had  been  opened 
at  that  time  near  the  village  of  Houghton  in  Caneadea.  With  the 
exception  of  one  stone  pipe  nearly  everything  found  in  the  shape 
of  irafDlements  was  made  by  white  men." 

2  The  Seneca  village  of  Karathyadirha  in  1766  was  at  Belvidere, 
on  the  Genesee  and  at  the  mouth  of  Van  Campen's  creek. — Doc.  hist. 
N.  y.  7:72^.  E.  M.  Wilson  furnished  the  plan  of  fig.  14,  on  a 
scale  of  200  feet  to  the  inch.  It  is  an  earthwork  in  Angelica,  one 
and  one  half  miles  north  of  the  N.  Y.  L.  E.  &  W.  railroad  station  of 
Belvidere,  80  rods  west  of  the  Genesee  river,  and  on  a  partly  inclosed 
plateau.  A  stream  is  on  the  west,  and  the  river  flats  on  the  east.  It 
is  a  half  circular  bank,  with  a  gate  in  the  center  and  an  outside  ditch. 
The  plateau  is  about  60  feet  high,  and  the  wall  450  feet  long.  It  is 
an  early  site,  with  stone  implements  and  pottery. 

3  Near  Phillipsville,  now  Belmont,  and  in  Amity,  not  far  from 
Belvidere  were  three  forts.  On  the  largest  of  these  were  eight  old 
trees,  on  one  of  which  was  painted  a  turtle  over  a  canoe. — Barber, 
p.  86.    Mr  Wilson  knew  of  only  one  work  near  Belmont.    Dr  E.  E. 


30  ^  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Hyde,  of  that  place,  r^iiembered  the  pickets  of  the  fort  north  of  that 
village  and  west  of  the  river.  They  were  set  deep  in  the  ground  in 
parallel  lines,  and  burned  off  close  to  the  earth.  The  two  lines  were 
several  feet  apart  and  20  rods  long.  He  mentioned  a  mound. 
Fig.  7  is  from  his  sketch,  on  a  scale  of  300  feet  to  the  inch.  North 
of  the  railroad  bridge  were  caches  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  but  far 
from  the  fort.    There  were  many  relics  near. 

4  Mr  Wilson  reported  "  a  work  of  a  dif¥erent  class,  known  to  the 
settlers  of  the  town  of  Wirt,  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  county." 

5  Owaiski  was  south  of  Portage,  near  the  junction  of  Owaiski 
creek  and  Genesee  river. 

Broome  county.  i  Recent  village  on  the  wxst  side  of  the  river 
at  Chenango  Forks,  and  north  of  the  bridge.  The  cemetery  was  on 
the  east  bank. — Smith.    Chenango,  p.  193 

2  Village  site  south  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  east  of  the  most 
western  creek  in  Vestal.  In  an  area  of  two  acres  are  found  flakes, 
arrowheads,  hammers  and  pottery.  A.  F.  Barrott  reported  this  and 
several  other  sites  in  Vestal  and  Union.  This  is  east  of  Tracey 
creek. 

3  On  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  northeast  of  the  last  named 
is  a  similar  but  very  much  larger  site,  with  fireplaces,  celts  and 
hammers.  These  are  found  over  15  acres  of  land.  It  is  west  of  a 
creek  flowing  west  of  Union. 

4  A  similar  site  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  west  of  the 
creek  at  Vestal. 

5  Round  Top  hill  is  west  of  Union  and  east  of  the  creek  before 
mentioned.  The  site  is  at  the  base  of  the  hill  and  north  of  the  river, 
extending  over  many  acres.  Very  large  celts  and  other  common 
relics  have  been  found. 

6  Chugnutts  was  a  large,  recent  town  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, at  the  village  of  Vestal  and  was  burned  in  1779. — Siillilvany 
p.  24.  Some  Oneidas,  Tuscaroras,  Skaniadarighroonas,  Chugnutts 
and  Shawnees,  settled  at  Chugnutts  in  1756. — Doc.  hist.  N.  Y.  7:50 

7  A  blufY  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  east  of  Union  contains 
a  cemetery. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  31 

8  South  of  the  last  site  and  of  the  river  are  many  shell  heaps  in 
the  bank. 

9  An  island  of  about  lo  acres  in  Big  Choconut  creek,  southeast 
of  Vestal,  has  earthenware  and  a  few  arrowheads. 

ID  Chenango,  or  Otsiningo,  was  four  miles  north  of  Binghamton, 
in  the  town  of  Chenango  and  on  that  river. — Sullivan,  p.  24.  In 
1758  there  lived  three  nations  at  Otsiningo,  the  Shawnees,  Nanti- 
cokes  and  Mohickanders. — Doc.  hist.  N.  Y.  7  1250.  Castle  creek, 
on  the  west  side  of  Chenango  river,  was  so  called  from  the  Indian 
castle  at  its  mouth. — French,  p.  181.  Many  silver  ornaments  were 
found  near  Binghamton. — Wilkijison,  p.  143.  An  Indian  oven  was 
washed  out  there,  on  the  Susquehanna. — Wilkinson,  p.  220 

11  Onoquaga  was  on  both  sides  of  the  Susquehanna,  eight  miles 
below  Conihunto,  and  near  the  present  Onoquaga.  It  was 
destroyed  in  1779. — Sullivan,  p.  23.  A  deposit  of  brass  kettles  was 
found  at  Oquaga. — Wilkinson,  p.  155-56.  At  Oquaga,  now 
Windsor,  are  old  apple-trees  and  earthworks. — French,  p.  180. 
Valuable  trinkets  and  human  bones  were  plow^ed  up  under  the 
apple-trees.  The  remains  of  a  recent  fort  were  seen  by  the  first 
settlers. — Child.    Directory,  1872-73 

12  W.  L.  Hildburgh  reports  camp  sites  along  the  Tioughnioga 
river  between  Chenango  Forks  and  Whitney's  Point. 

Cattaraugus  county.  The  principal  authorities  to  be  cited  on 
Cattaraugus  are  A.  T.  Cheney,  whose  interesting  account  and  plans 
appeared  in  the  regents  report  for  1859,  Dr  Frederick  Larkin,  who 
published  Ancient  man  in  America,  in  1880,  and  Mr  Marcus  Sackett, 
who  described  some  works  in  an  address  before  the  Chautauqua 
historical  society  in  September  1888.  He  has  sent  later  notes  to 
the  writer. 

I  A  work  on  a  high  ridge  on  the  south  side  of  Cattaraugus  creek, 
five  miles  from  Lake  Erie  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  Big  Indian 
creek.  The  bluff  is  parallel  with  the  first  creek,  pointing  up  stream. 
The  sides  are  high  and  abrupt,  except  at  one  place  on  the  north 
side,  along  this  a  wall  was  built  for  15  or  18  rods,  completely 
closing  the  gap.  At  the  northwest  end  the  wall  bends  to  the  west. 
The  ridge  is  very  narrow  there.    Fig.  84  is  from  a  sketch  by  Mr 


32  ,  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Sackett,  showing  theTelative  position  of  this  and  the  next  earth- 
work. 

2  A  work  between  a  small  stream  and  the  Cattaraugus  occupied 
the  top  of  a  high  and  steep  bluff  on  the  reservation  in  the  extreme 
northwest  part  of  the  county.  A  wall,  24  rods  long,  crossed  this. 
Early  relics  were  found. — Cheney,  p.  39,  pi.  2,.  no.  i.  Mr  Sackett 
gave  farther  particulars.  The  small  stream  was  Big  Indian  creek. 
Streams  entered  Cattaraugus  creek  between  the  two  sites.  The 
area  was  nearly  three  acres^  and  there  was  a  sunken  path  to  the 
streams.  Some  excavators  found  iron 'axes  and  human  bones  in 
1838.  Fig.  15  is  Mr  Cheney's  plan  on  a  scale  of  500  feet  to  the 
inch.  The  writer  visited  the  work  at  Big  Indian  creek  in  September 
1899,  with  Dr  R.  M.  Evarts  of  Silver  Creek,  to  whose  aid  in  in- 
vestigation along  Cattaraugus  creek,  thanks  are  due.  In  the  deep 
covered  way  a  flint  scraper  and  a  grooved  stone  were  found.  There 
was  little  pottery  and  perhaps  no  long  occupation.  The  wall  of 
about  160  feet  runs  directly  across  the  ridge,  and  has  a  gate  at 
the  east.  In  places  it  still  has  a  hight  of  five  or  six  feet  from  the 
bottom  of  the  ditch. 

3  A  large  earthwork  several  miles  farther  up,  may  be  that  at 
Point  Peter. — Cheney,  p.  40.  On  the  west  side  of  the  stream  Point 
Peter  reaches  Cattaraugus  creek  in  an  abrupt  bluff,  on  top  of  which 
is  a  half  circular  work,  the  open  side  being  on  the  high  cliffs  above 
the  creek.  This  work  of  three  or  four  acres  is  on  a  level  plateau, 
back  of  the  narrow  point.  This  is  near  Gowanda,  and  in  Persia, 
where  there  are  relics  for  miles  around.  Some  pits  are  on  John  S. 
Ackerly's  farm. — Adams,  p.  20,  270 

4  A  burial  mound  in  Dayton,  120  feet  around  and  10  feet  high, 
was  explored  in  1889  by  H.  L.  Reynolds,  but  the  exact  spot  was 
not  given. 

5  "  In  the  towns  of  Leon  and  Conewango  a  number  of  burial 
mounds  have  been  explored.  On  either  side  of  Conewango  valley 
a  chain  of  fortifications  may  be  traced  for  more  than  20  miles,  inter^ 
spersed  with  numerous  mausoleums." — Larkin,  p.  4.  He  gives  a 
figure  and  description  from  Cheney.  This  interesting  valley  should 
have  fuller  exploration.    The  mound  described  was  on  a  hill  above 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


33 


the  valley.  The  interior  mound  approached  an  eUipse  being  6i 
by  65  feet,  with  an  altitude  of  10  feet  above  the  lower  mound,  which 
was  three  feet  high.  Eight  sitting  skeletons  formed  a  circle  within, 
and  there  were  fine  relics.  The  fields  around  showed  ancient  culti- 
vation.— Cheney,  p.  40,  pi.  3.  This  plan  is  given  in  fig.  8,  on  a 
scale  of  500  feet  to  the  inch. 

6  In  the  town  of  Napoli,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Narrows,  there 
is  a  mound  120  feet  in  circumference,  on  a  high  hill,  600  feet  above 
the  Conewango. — Larkin,  p.  16-17.  On  the  west  side  a  stream 
flows  to  the  Allegheny. 

7  Mr  Cheney  reported  two  rectangular  excavations  on  lot  49, 
Leon,  now  considered  natural,  but  there  were  reHcs,  hearths,  and 
traces  of  ancient  cultivation. — Cheney,  p.  40 

8  In  Randolph  village,  west  of  the  Conewango  and  partlv  in- 
closed by  it,  was  a  bank  across  the  level  terrace,  60  rods  long. 
Over  30  caches  were  formerly  seen. — Cheney,  p.  41,  pi.  4.  Cheney's 
plan  is  given  in  fig.  18,  on  a  scale  of  1400  feet  to  one  inch  and  he 
also  mentions  a  mound.  Dr  Larkin  adds  notes  of  interest,  it  being 
his  home.  Blocks  of  mica  and  stone  hearths  were  found,  and 
thousands  of  relics  occurred  within  a  mile  around. — Larkin,  p.  10 

9  A  nearly  circular  work,  a  mile  east  of  this  group,  is  about  1000 
feet  afound  and  has  four  gateways  each  12  feet  wide.  There  are 
hearths  and  caches.  It  is  included  in  the  last  plan. — Cheney,  p.  841. 
The  work  is  near  the  home  of  J.  E.  Weeden,  and  has  an  area  of 
three  acres. — Larkin,  p.  10 

10  A  circular  work  on  Elm  creek,  near  East  Randolph,  is  287 
feet  wide  with  many  caches. — Cheney,  p.  40,  pi.  2,  no.  2.  This  plan 
appears  in  fig.  10,  on  a  scale  of  250  feet  to  one  inch.  Larkin  says 
that  hundreds  of  relics  have  been  found.  Mr  Reynolds  thought 
this  a  work  of  one  acre,  on  J.  N.  Metcalf  s  land. 

1 1  Two  miles  from  the  Allegheny  up  Cold  Spring  creek  were  two 
sepulchral  mounds  about  10  feet  high. — Larkin,  p.  27 

12  A  mound  in  Cold  Spring  500  feet  west  of  the  Allegheny  river 
was  20  feet  high  and  200  feet  around.  "  Cart-loads  "  of  bones  were 
taken  from  it  with  fine  copper  and  stone  articles. — Larkin,  p.  22 


34 


NEW  YORK    STATE  MUSEUM 


13  A  circular  work>on  the  south  side  of  Allegheny  river  in  Buck- 
tooth  township  (now  Red  House)  is  on  a  steep  hill  above  Red 
House  creek.  It  is  not  quite  circular  and  is  1060  feet  in  circum- 
ference.— Cheney,  p.  42,  pi.  5.  His  plan  appears  in  fig.  16  on  a  scale 
of  260  feet  to  one  inch.    Larkin  adds  a  little. 

14  Several  miles  from  this  was  a  burial  mound  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Allegheny,  which  was  10  feet  high. — Cheney,  p.  42 

15  Several  miles  below  this  was  a  circular  work  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Allegheny^  300  feet  in  diameter  which  seemed  recent.  Relics 
are  found  all  along  the  river.  Several  other  works  are  reported  to 
exist  at  some  distance  from  it. — Cheney,  p.  42 

16  Genesinguhta  now  Old  Town  was  a  Seneca  village  of  the  last 
century  on  the  Allegheny  in  Elko. — Adams,  p.  41 

17  Tunesassa  an  Indian  village  at  the  mouth  of  Cold  Spring 
creek. 

18  There  was  a  council  house  at  Horse  shoe  bend  on  the  Alle- 
gheny, in  Great  Valley,  and  two  miles  above  was  Killbuck  a  de- 
serted village. — Adams,  p.  690  , 

19  In  Carrollton  nearly  opposite  the  village  of  Limestone  is  a 
circular  work  about  1000  feet  around,  in  the  valley  of  the  Tunaeng- 
want.  A  large  gateway,  with  breastworks  led  toward  a  stream  on 
the  north.  Large  quantities  of  bones  were  found,  with  hearths 
and  caches. — Larkin,  p.  29-30,  fig.  8.  His  plan  appears  in  fig.  22. 
French  describes  a  work  on  the  flats,  in  the  form  of  a  figure  8, 
which  may  be  the  same.  Larkin  adds,  "  The  valley  of  the  Tunaeng- 
want,  together  with  that  of  Great  Valley,  Wright's  creek  and  in 
fact  nearly  every  stream  that  is  bordered  by  fertile  lands,  were  once 
occupied  by  the  mound  builders.  Vestiges  of  ancient  works  are 
numerous,  such  as  military  fortifications,  sepulchral  mounds,  flint 
arrowheads,  mica  and  copper  relics.  As  we  pass  up  the  Allegheny, 
from  its  junction  with  Tunaengwant,  we  find  the  faded  remains  of 
the  ancient  people  at  every  step." — Larkin,  p.  31 

20  At  Olean  the  canal  passed  through  a  burial  mound,  40  feet 
wide  by  60  feet  long  and  10  feet  high. — Larkin,  p.  31.  There  was  a 
group  of  small  mounds  at  the  confluence  of  Olean  creek  and  Alle- 
gheny river. — Macauley,  2:113 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


35 


21  In  Hinsdale,  about  five  miles  north  of  Olean,  and  near  the 
west  side  of  the  creek  was  a  circular  fort  of  about  three  acres. 
Around  it  were  abundant  relics. — Larkin,  p.  31.  This  was  on 
Peake's  and  Gould's  land. 

22  Frank  C.  Dawley  reports  a  fort  at  the  Jackson  school- 
house,  two  miles  northwest  of  Versailles,  and  another  half  way,  at 
the  mouth  of  Castile  creek.  All  those  along  Cattaraugus  creek 
are  on  high  points,  formed  by  tributaries  of  that  stream.  All  have 
a  single  and  nearly  straight  bank,  except  that  at  the  schoolhouse  in 
which  there  is  an  opening  in  the  bank.  Under  the  guidance  of 
Dr  R.  M.  Evarts  the  writer  examined  the  double-walled  fort  near 
the  Jackson  schoolhouse.  The  walls  are  about  20  feet  apart  and 
12  rods  long.  The  outside  or  eastern  ditch  is  deep,  and  the  in- 
terior one  broad  and  shallower.  The  outside  wall  is  now  five  or 
six  feet  high  from  the  bottom  of  the  outer  ditch,  and  about  four 
feet  above  the  inner  one.  The  gate  is  at  the  northeast  end.  An- 
other fort  is  at  the  mouth  of  Castile  creek,  a  mile  nearer  Versailles. 

23  The  Indians  report  four  forts  between  Versailles  and  Gowanda, 
within  as  many  miles. 

24  On  N.  E.  G.  Cowan's  land,  near  Rutledge,  was  a  mound  6 
feet  l»gh  and  20  feet  in  diameter,  in  which  were  stone  relics  and 
ashes.  Nine  skeletons  sat  in  a  circle,  back  to  back. — U.  S.  bur.  of 
eth.  1890-91,  p.  508. 

Cayuga  county.  The  northern  part  of  the  county  has  few  sites, 
the  Cayugas  living  south  of  Seneca  river  and  mostly  between 
Cayuga  and  Owasco  lakes,  except  a  few  villages  in  Seneca  county 
where  they  may  have  had  earlier  homes.  Squier  mentioned  a  fort 
in  Brutus,  which  was  really  near  Jamesville,  Onondaga  county.  In 
the  Jesuit  relations  Cayuga  was  called  Onoien  in  1654.  The  three 
great  villages  of  1668  were  Cayuga  at  the  lake,  or  St  Joseph, 
Thiohero  or  St  Stephen,  four  French  leagues  from  there;  and 
Onontare  or  St  Rene,  two  leagues  below  on  the  river.  There  are 
other  notices  in  the  Relations.  In  1677  Greenhalgh  said  that  the 
Cayugas  had  three  open  towns,  a  mile  apart  and  two  or  three  miles 
from  Lake  Tichero.  In  1763  Sir  William  Johnson  reported  one 
large  village  at  Cayuga  lake,  and  several  thence  to  the  Susquehanna. 


36 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


1  Many  arrowheads  and  other  articles  are  found  around  Spring 
lake,  in  Conquest.  They  would  naturally  occur  along  the  trails 
leading  to  Lake  Ontario.  Some  small  burial  mounds  were  a  mile 
south  of  this  village,  and  there  were  also  fireplaces  and  shells 
toward  the  river. — Hinsdale 

2  There  were  camps  on  Rowland  island,  in  the  Seneca  river, 
and  many  relics  have  been  found. 

3  J.  V.  H.  Clark  says  that  the  Onondagas  had  also  cleared  off 
what  is  called  the  salt  fields,  in  the  town  of  Cato,  and  had  a  small 
settlement  there." — Clark,  2 :328 

4  On  the  west  shore  of  Cross  lake  just  north  of  the  Seneca  river 
there  is  an  early  site  with  rude  relics. 

5  A  burial  place  was  found  at  Blufif  point  east  of  the  Seneca  river 
and  near  Fox  Ridge  in  1894.  The  relics  were  modern.  The  point 
is  "  about  20  rods  north  of  the  Central  Hudson  railroad  tracks,  a 
marsh  separating  them,  and  is  parallel  with  the  east  bank  of  Seneca 
river.  It  contains  about  27  acres  of  gravelly  soil."  The  skeletons 
were  found  at  the  extreme  south  point.  This  was  probably  the 
burial  place  of  Onontare. 

6  Squier  described  a  small  work  six  miles  northwest  of  Auburn 
and  three  miles  from  Throopsville  in  the  town  of  Mentz,  and  by 
the  road  to  Port  Byron.  Fig.  11  represents  the  plan  on  a  scale 
of  200  feet  to  the  inch.  "  The  v/ork  is  built  upon  the  crest  of  a 
narrow  ridge,  which  extends  nearly  north  and  south,  and  along 
which  the  main  road  passes."  The  walls  were  then  two  or  three 
feet  high.  Some  comparatively  recent  relics  had  been  found, 
as  well  as  skeletons  within  and  without  the  walls.  There  was  one 
gate.  He  thought  this  might  be  a  work  mentioned  by  Macauley 
at  Montezuma,  which  is  four  miles  northwest  and  in  the  next  town. 
That  work  has  not  been  found. 

7  There  is  a  site  of  two  acres  in  lot  28,  Sennett,  two  miles  north- 
east of  Auburn,  with  relics  of  earthenware  and  stone. 

8  The  work  at  Fort  Hill,  Auburn,  has  been  figured  by  Squier 
and  Schoolcraft,  of  which  a  small  part  remains  in  the  cemetery  in 
front  of  the  Logan  monument.  Fig.  i  gives  Squier's  plan  which 
differs  slightly  from  the  other.    The  wall  was  not  continuous  and 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


37 


may  never  have  been  so.  This  plan  is  200  feet  to  the  inch.  James 
H.  Bostwick  furnished  Schoolcraft's  plan  which  will  be  found  in  his 
Iroquois  report.  The  north  and  south  axis  from  the  outside  base 
of  the  bank  was  410  feet,  and  the  east  and  west  416.  He  made 
five  openings,  and  Mr  Squier  eight,  two  of  which  are  narrow.  The 
latter  said  of  these,  "  It  has  been  conjectured  by  some  that  the  walls 
here  have  been  washed  away,  but  it  is  clear  that  there  was  slight 
necessity  for  defenses  at  this  point,  and  that  none  ever  existed 
beyond  what  may  be  traced."  The  descent  was  abrupt  on  all  sides, 
and  there  were  caches.  The  bank  was  two  or  three  feet  high  in 
1850,  with  a  corresponding  ditch. — Squier,  p.  49,  pi.  5,  no.  i 

9  Macauley  described  another  fort  in  Auburn,  two  miles  north- 
east of  this,  containing  two  acres,  with  a  bank,  ditch  and  gateway. 
It  was  on  North  street,  near  the  present  railroad  crossing.  When 
the  land  was  cleared  about  1790,  the  bank  was  7  feet  high,  and 
the  ditch  10  feet  wide.  It  was  350  paces  in  circumference,  and  had 
a  gate  to  the  northeast.  Hammer-stones,  earthenware  and  trian- 
gular flint  arrowheads  were  found.  Not  far  off  was  a  mound  filled 
with  skeletons,  probably  a  natural  elevation.  DeWitt  Clinton  more 
correctly  said  it  was  a  mile  north  of  the  last,  but  he  may  have 
overestimated  the  area.  He  also  stated  that  it  had  a  north  gate,  the 
entrance  of  which  must  have  been  from  the  west  on  account  of 
the  overlapping  of  the  wall. 

10  There  is  a  cemetery,  etc.  with  modern  relics  on  John  IMorse's 
land  three  miles  north  of  Cayuga.    It  is  covered  by  an  orchard. 

1 1  North  Cayuga,  St  Stephen's  or  Thiohero,  was  two  miles  north 
of  Cayuga  village,  on  lot  24,  Aurelius.  The  site  occupies  three  or 
four  acres  east  of  the  canal  and  north  of  the  highway.  Jesuit  rings 
and  European  articles  are  found.  In  an  early  cache  near  by  was 
found  a  plate  of  mica  and  other  curious  articles.  This  and  most  of 
the  following  sites  were  reported  by  W.  W.  Adams  of  ]\Iaple- 
ton.  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  said  that  Choharo  was  the  Tichero 
(Thiohero)  or  St  Stephen's  of  the  Jesuit  relations,  said  to  signify  the 
place  of  rushes,  at  the  foot  of  Cayuga  lake  on  the  east  side, 
at  the  exact  point  where  the  bridge  of  the  middle  turnpike  left 
the  east  shore.    The  trail  across  the  marsh  followed  the  north  bank 


38 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


of  an  ancient  channel  of  the  Seneca  river.  .  .  The  salt  springs 
mentioned  by  Father  Raffeix  in  1672  were  on  the  west  side  of  the 
marsh  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  N.  Y.  C.  railroad  bridge." 

12  In  a  burial  place  on  Frontenac  island,  Cayuga  lake,  skeletons 
were  found  on  the  rock  two  feet  under  ground. 

13  Stone  relics  alone  are  found  on  a  site  of  10  acres  on  Yawger's 
point,  north  of  Union  Springs,  lot  92,  Springport.  Lodge  sites 
appear  over  the  whole  field. 

14  An  early  site  on  lot  85,  on  the  same  point,  occupies  two  or 
three  acres.  The  graves  occupy  40  or  50  feet,  each  having  from 
one  to  20  skeletons.  Long  shell  beads  are  found  but  nothing 
European. 

15  J.  W.  Kales  found  bones  of  men,  women  and  children  in 
a  pit  a  mile  north  of  Union  Springs  and  near  the  lake.  There  were 
no  relics. — Smithsonian  report  1881.  Gen.  Clark  also  mentions 
"  Gewauga,  a  small  hamlet  on  the  present  site  of  Union  Springs 
.    .    .  on  the  east  side  of  Cayuga  lake." 

16  There  are  several  early  sites  on  Farley's  point,  south  of  Union 
Springs,  and  on  lot  7,  Springport.  Mr  Adams  thought  part  of 
Cayuga  Castle  was  on  this  point  but  found  only  early  relics.  The 
site  comprises  8  or  10  acres  and  the  graves  occupy  two  or  three 
rods.  The  relics  are  of  stone  and  shell  with  clay  and  stone  pipes 
and  pottery. 

17  Fig.  12  is  a  stockade  in  Ledyard,  four  miles  southeast  of 
Union  Springs.  It  is  still  mostly  undisturbed  and  was  described 
by  Mr  Squier,  whose  plan  is  used  on  a  scale  of  400  feet  to  the  inch. 
It  seems  recent  and  is  on  a  point  between  two  deep  ravines.  A 
somewhat  pyriform  space  is  inclosed  at  the  end  of  the  point  which 
is  about  300  feet  in  diameter.  The  curving  stockade  takes  in  about 
half  of  the  outline;  the  holes  are  eight  inches  in  diameter.  There 
are  caches  within.  From  the  extreme  point  of  the  plateau  the 
"  Indian  path  "  follows  a  narrow  spur  to  the  water.  The  banks 
of  the  streams  are  175  feet  high. — Squier,  p.  88,  pi.  13.  Morgan 
says  that  Gayagaanha,  the  principal  village,  was  on  Salmon  creek, 
three  miles  south  of  Union  Springs,  one  and  one  half  miles  from 
the  lake. — Morgan,  p.  423.    It  should  read  Great  Gully  brook.  In 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


39 


Sullivan's  expedition  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  speaks  of  "  Cayuga  Castle, 
an  Indian  town  containing  15  ven^  large  houses  of  squared  logs, 
on  the  south  line  of  Springport  ...  on  the  north  bank  of 
Great  Gully  brook,  and  from  one  to  two  miles  from  the  lake." 

18  A  site  on  lot  114  Ledyard  is  supposed  to  be  Upper  Cayuga. 
There  are  fireplaces  and  a  few  graves  with  European  relics  and 
many  copper  fish  hooks.  Gen.  Clark  speaks  of  Upper  Cayuga, 
an  Indian  town  of  14  very  large  houses,  near  the  north  line  of 
Ledyard  ...  on  the  south  bank  of  Great  Gully  brook  and 
as  appears  on  the  map  between  one  and  two  miles  from  the  lake." 
The  distance  is  greater. 

19  East  Cayuga,  or  Old  Town,  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west 
of  Mapleton,  on  lot  95,  Fleming.  Area,  10  or  12  acres  east  of  the 
creek.  The  relics  are  recent.  Clark  notes  that  East  Cayuga,  or 
Old  Town,  contained  13  houses,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town 
of  Springport  as  indicated  on  the  map  from  three  to  four  miles  from 
the  lake.  A  site  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Fleming  was  a  site  of 
this  town  at  about  this  time/'  which  was  1779. 

20  Cemetery  of  half  an  acre  on  lot  89,  west  of  Fleming  village. 
Modern  relics. 

21'  Site  of  ID  to  15  acres  at  Scipioville,  with  recent  relics.  Nearly 
level  ground.    There  was  a  burial  place. 

22  Clark  says  that  "  Chonondote  was  an  Indian  town  of  14 
houses  on  the  site  of  the  present  Aurora;  according  to  George 
Grant's  journal  it  contained  1500  peach  trees." 

23  Stockade  found  on  Isaac  Carpenter's  farm  near  the  north  line 
of  lot  67,  Ledyard,  in  1887.  Area  two  acres  with  potsherds,  pipes, 
celts  and  broken  bones  and  skeletons.  It  is  a  level  point  between 
two  ravines;  the  general  form  is  given  in  fig.  2.  There  was  a 
simple  stockade  100  feet  long  from  Payne's  creek  on  one  side  to 
a  small  stream  on  the  other. 

24  Macauley  mentioned  a  similar  work  near  Aurora.  It  was 
"  two  miles  from  the  viflage,  in  a  southwesterly  (southeasterly) 
direction,  the  area  triangular,  containing  two  acres.  Two  of  its 
sides  were  defended  by  precipitous  banks,  the  third  by  an  em- 
bankment and  ditch.    Fragments  of  earthen  vessels  and  the  bones 


40 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


of  animals  had  been  found  there  enveloped  in  ashes."  It  is  on 
R.  Stewart's  farm,  lot  68,  Ledyard,  and  also  on  Payne's  creek.  Part 
of  the  ditch  remains.  There  are  stone  relics  and  earthenware  but 
no  graves  appear  on  either  of  these  two  sites. 

25  A  cemetery  of  half  an  acre  is  two  miles  south  of  Ledyard  post- 
office,  on  lot  83.  The  village  site  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  farther 
south.    Earthenware  occurs. 

26  A  cemetery  in  P.  Stafford's  woods,  west  of  the  road  and  half 
a  mile  north  of  Kings  Ferry.  Nothing  was  found  with  the  skele- 
tons^ which  were  in  rows. 

27  The  Sterner  site  is  a  mile  south  of  Genoa,  occupying  one  or 
two  acres  on  both  sides  of  Salmon  creek.  It  is  on  lot  17,  with 
recent  relics  and  occupied  with  graves. 

28  A  village  site  is  on  the  west  side  of  Big  Salmon  creek,  lot  74, 
Venice,  two  miles  south  of  Venice  Center.  The  cemetery  is 
east  of  the  creek,  on  a  small  knoll  one  eighth  of  an  acre  in  extent. 
Shell  gorgets  and  European  articles  are  found  there.  The  village 
is  on  level  land  on  the  other  side  and  farther  south. 

29  The  Indian  fields  commence  on  the  Hull  farm,  lot  88,  ScipTo, 
and  extend  across  Venice  five  miles  into  Genoa,  being  about  a  mile 
wide  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  while  Myers  is  the  only  place 
of  importance  on  the  east.  Recent  relics  are  found  on  almost  every 
farm,  and  in  early  days  large  quantities  of  brass  were  taken  from 
them. 

30  A  stockade  has  been  reported  on  a  site  of  10  or  12  acres  east 
of  Myers  station,  but  not  definitely.  The  village  was  south  of  the 
creek,  on  lot  97,  Venice.  The  cemetery  is  east  of  the  railroad  on 
a  sandy  knoll.  Early  and  recent  relics.  French  mentions  the  fort 
east  of  the  creek. 

31  A  site  of  two  or  three  acres  in  Locke,  half  or  three  fourths 
of  a  mile  west  of  Milan,  is  usually  reported  as  a  stockade,  but  Mr 
Adams  in  his  hasty  examination  found  no  traces  of  this.  It  em- 
braces a  space  in  the  woods  on  a  point  between  two  streams.  Such 
positions  were  rarely  without  defense.  Earthenware  is  found. — 
Child,  Directory,  1867-68,  says  that  "  Traces  of  an  Indian  burial 
ground  are  still  visible,  covering  about  two  acres  of  ground  between 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


41 


two  deep  gulfs,  half  a  mile  west  of  Milan.  The  graves  are  dis- 
tributed in  rows  east  and  west." 

32  Macauley  says,  On  the  east  side  of  the  Seneca  river  near 
Montezuma,  there  are  still  to  be  seen  the  ruins  of  a  small  fort.  A 
small  mound  occurs  not  far  from  the  fort;  it  is  artificial." 

33  There  is  a  site  on  lot  15  Scipio,  which  yields  no  European 
articles.  It  emibraces  two  acres  south  of  the  creek.  The  cemetery 
is  slightly  raised. 

34  Graves  on  the  hillside  about  a  mile  west  of  Venice  Center. 

35  Mr  Hildburgh  reports  the  following.  Recent  graves  two  and 
a  half  miles  north  of  Genoa.^ 

36  Obliterated  earthwork  in  the  town  of  Niles,  a  little  north  of 
the  Moravia  line  and  a  mile  east  of  Owasco  lake,  on  M.  B.  Duryee's 
farm. 

37  Camp  on  the  flats  at  the  south  end  of  Owasco  lake. 

38  In  October  1899  an  early  cemetery  was  opened  a  little  west 
of  Throopsville  station. 

Chautauqua  county.  Most  of  the  sites  reported  in  Chautauqua 
county  are  east  of  a  meridian  line  through  Chautauqua  lake.  Most 
of  them  may  be  referred  to  the  Eries  of  an  early  day  or  to  some 
kind»ed  people,  but  there  are  traces  of  those  much  farther  advanced 
in  the  arts.  Some  work  was  done  by  H.  L.  Reynolds  in  1889, 
which  appears  in  the  report  of  the  U.  S.  bureau  of  ethnology, 
1890-91.  The  southwest  part  of  the  county  might  be  expected  to  re- 
pay examination,  for  all  this  region  is  a  border  land  between  the  Iro- 
quoian  family  and  the  earlier  race  a  little  farther  south,  for  con- 
venience termed  mound  builders.  All  the  plans  given  are  from 
Mr  Cheney's  brief  but  interesting  report  published  by  the  regents 
many  years  ago.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  gave  so  little  in- 
formation on  the  relics  occurring  there,  but  these  seem  to  have 
interested  him  little.  He  chose  rather  the  more  impressive  mounds 
and  forts. 

Artificial  roadways  were  reported  by  Dr  H.  C.  Taylor,  in  his 
History  of  Portland.  They  were  near  Brocton,  but  prove  to  be 
natural  beds  of  gravel  as  is  the  case  elsewhere.  Grooved  axes  are 
sometimes  found.    Arrowheads,  gouges,  etc.  often  occur  along  or 


42 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


near  Chautauqua  lake.  James  Sherrard  mentions  fragments  of  pot- 
tery in  Stockton,  and  a  cache  in  Sheridan  of  "  as  much  as  two 
bushels  of  flint  spalls  or  chips,  and  a  number  of  arrow  and  spear- 
heads."   Many  fine  and  rare  relics  are  found  in  various  places. 

Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  said  of  the  north  part  of  this  county,  "  On 
the  south  side  of  Lake  Erie  are  a  series  of  old  fortifications,  from 
Cattaraugus  creek  to  the  Pennsylvania  line^  a  distance  of  50  miles. 
Some  are  from  two  to  four  miles  apart,  others  half  a  mile  only. 
Some  contain  five  acres.  The  walls  or  breastworks  are  of  earth, 
and  are  generally  on  ground  where  there  are  appearances  of  creeks 
having  flowed  into  the  lake."  Little  attention  has  been  given  to 
these  works  near  the  lake. 

The  Jesuit  relations  of  1648  says,  "  This  lake  named  Erie  was 
formerly  inhabited  on  its  southern  coast  by  certain  peoples  whom 
we  call  the  nation  of  the  Cat,  who  have  been  obliged  to  withdraw 
inland  in  order  to  get  away  from  their  enemies  who  are  more  toward 
the  west.  These  people  of  the  Cat  have  a  number  of  fixed  villages, 
for  they  cultivate  the  ground  and  are  of  the  same  language  as 
our  Hurons."  They  knew  little  of  Europeans  and  their  downfall 
came  in  1654-55. 

1  There  were  remains  of  extensive  works  in  Westfield. — Young, 
p.  18.  There  was  a  bank  in  the  village  of  Westfield,  half  a  mile 
south  of  West  Main  street,  on  Hugh  Neil's  land. — Reynolds,  p.  512 

2  There  were  circular  works  and  old  roadways  in  Portland. — 
Young,  p.  18.  An  elliptic  work  was  on  the  west  bank  of  Fay's 
creek  Portland,  on  the  central  part  of  lot  38,  T.  5.  The  Erie  railroad 
runs  through  the  north  part  of  the  fort  and  clay  and  stone  pipes 
have  been  found  there. — Reynolds,  p.  512 

3  A  bank  in  Portland  opposite  the  home  of  John  L.  Coon. — 
Reynolds,  p.  512 

4  Two  circular  works  not  connected  with  the  Fredonia  series 
were  noted  on  the  first  terrace  of  Lake  Erie. — Cheney,  p.  47.  Loca- 
tion not  specified  but  presumably  near  Fredonia. 

5  A  work  near  the  east  line  of  Fredonia  was  on  an  abrupt  emi- 
nence of  30  feet  and  was  190  feet  long.  It  intersected  the  steep 
banks  of  the  creeks  on  either  side.    The  wall  was  semicircular. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


43 


"  The  trace  of  a  very  large  pit  occurs  in  front  of  the  embankment. 
The  usual  Indian  relics,  such  as  ancient  pottery,  etc.  have  been 
observed  here." — Cheney,  p.  46.  Larkin  says  of  the  pit,  ''A  great 
amount  of  arrowheads  and  spearheads,  some  of  which  were  com- 
posed of  copper,  together  with  a  quantity  of  charred  corn,  were 
found  in  the  pit.  Adjacent  to  this  intrenchment  fragments  of 
human  bones  have  been  disclosed  in  such  an  advanced  stage  of 
decay  that  they  whitened  the  soil." — Larkin,  p.  37.  This  was  on 
Dr  A.  P.  Phillips's  land  a  mile  east  of  Fredonia  and  on  the  bank  of 
Canadaway  creek  in  Pomfret.  Reynolds  makes  it  circular,  with  an 
area  of  one  acre. — Reynolds,  p.  511 

6  A  circular  bank  on  the  farm  of  Joel  Button  in  the  same  town, 
two  miles  east  of  Fredonia  on  the  Forestville  road,  is  on  both 
sides  of  a  stream.  It  has  yielded  pottery,  pestles  and  celts. — Rey- 
nolds, p.  511.    Area  3  acres.    Flat  land. 

7  A  mound  in  the  village  of  Fredonia  was  7  feet'high.  Skeletons 
and  stone  articles  have  been  found. — Reynolds,  p.  511 

8  A  circular  work  in  the  south  part  of  Sheridan  was  on  high 
ground  and  near  a  small  stream.  The  diameter  was  495  feet,  and 
there  were  once  several  gateways.    Pottery  is  found. — Cheney,  p.  46 

9  A  mound  in  Fredonia,  30  feet  high  and  90  paces  around,  might 
be  artificial,  but  Mr  Reynolds  thought  it  natural.  It  is  known  as 
the  Indian  mound. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  511 

10  There  was  a  large  circular  work  near  the  Erie  railroad  cross- 
ing on  the  road  from  "Fredonia  to  Forestville.  In  and  around  this 
were  stone  relics  and  many  pits,  in  pairs.  In  a  large  grave  many 
human  skeletons  of  all  ages  were  mingled. — Young,  p.  18.  Mk* 
Cheney  said  this  work  was  the  largest  he  saw,  having  a  diameter  of 
860  feet  and  inclosing  13^  acres.  The  road  passes  through  it 
nearly  east  and  west.  There  were  two  pits  of  unequal  size  without 
the  wall.  Pottery  and  entire  skulls  occurred.  This  work  is  "  the 
last  among  the  series  of  ancient  fortifications  which  once  extended 
along  the  Cassadaga  and  Canadaway  creeks,  and  thence  upon 
the  hills  bordering  upon  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie."  IMany  had 
been  obliterated. — Cheney,  p.  47,  pi.  11.    This  work  is  on  lot  35, 


44  NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

>' 

range  ii,  and  Mr  Cheney's  plan  is  given  in  fig.  6,  on  a  scale  of  500 
feet  to  the  inch. 

11  Mr  Reynolds  reported  a  circular  work  on  J.  G.  Gould's  farm^ 
3  miles  from  Forestville  on  the  Dunkirk  road.  It  occupied  about 
3  acres  on  a  blufif  above  Walnut  creek,  and  there  were  40  or  50 
pits  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  511. 
Mr  Sherrard  also  referred  to  walls  and  ditches  near  that  farm. 
"  These  fortifications  are  somew^hat  numerous  and  extensive,  reach- 
ing over  into  the  town  of  Pomfret,  where  a  hill  known  as  Fort  hill 
gives  unequivocal  testimony  of  the  work  of  man." 

12  Mr  Reynolds  reported  a  bone  pit  in  front  of  Mr  Gould's 
house  in  Sheridan.  In  this  ossuary  were  human  bones  of  persons 
of  all  ages  and  without  arrangement.  In  a  grave  near  this  were 
5  skeletons  in  a  circle,  with  the  feet  outward. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth. 
p.  511 

13  A  circular  mound,  30  feet  in  diameter  and  7  feet  high,  is  40 
rods  from  the  east  shore  of  Cassadaga  lake.  Decayed  skeletons 
were  removed  in  1822.  Many  hearths  were  near  the  mound,  which 
had  an  average  breadth  of  30  feet.  The  large  stones  showed  intense 
heat.  There  were  numerous  caches,  4  feet  broad  and  2  feet  deep. — 
Cheney,  p.  46 

14  Not  far  of¥  was  a  line  of  fortifications  across  a  peninsula  on 
the  south  shore,  inclosing  a  large  area.  He  described  what  he 
thought  a  gravel  road.  The  numerous  relics  were  of  fine  pottery, 
celts  and  iron  implements. — Cheney,  p.  46,  pi.  10.  Mr  Cheney's 
plan  of  these  two  sites  is  given  in  fig.  20,  on  a  scale  of  500  feet 
to  the  inch. 

15  Dr  Larkin  described  a  curious  oblong  mound  on  a  point  in 
the  lower  lake.  It  was  on  the  southwest  side,  and  had  a  long 
axis  of  7  and  a  short  axis  of  5  rods.  It  was  probably  natural,  but 
had  abundant  relics.  On  the  edge  of  the  plateau,  12  rods  from 
this,  was  a  bank  20  rods  long,  and  in  the  rear  of  it  another  running 
from  shore  to  shore. 

16  A  mound  on  the  west  shore  of  Chautauqua  lake,  on  John  F. 
Morton's  land,  is  two  miles  above  Lakeland.  Several  fireplaces 
and  piles  of  flint  were  near. — Reynolds 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF   NEW  YORK 


45 


17  A  trench  opened  in  Steadman  in  1867  was  full  of  human  bones, 
but  was  without  other  relics.  It  was  on  the  Hne  of  the  town  of 
Harmony.  There  were  over  20  skeletons  arranged  in  rows. — 
Young,  p.  19 

18  Two  mounds  were  south  of  Fair  point  and  west  of  Chautauqua 
lake.  One  was  on  Whitney's  and  the  other  on  Billings's  land.  One 
was  4  feet  high  by  25  feet  in  diameter,  and  contained  flat  stones, 
human  bones,  flint  knives,  clay  and  stone  pipes.  The  other  was 
31  by  38  feet  in  diameter.  Ashes  and  a  gorget  were  found  in  it. — 
U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  505 

19  Not  far  from  the  mounds  at  the  Narrows  east  of  the  lake  was 
an  old  cemetery  at  Dewittville.  Dr  Larkin  reported  vast  quanti- 
ties of  relics  in  the  vicinity  and  a  cache  of  arrowheads. — Larkin, 
P-  S8 

20  On  Bemus  point  are  old  and  recent  sites.  Some  were  found 
by  the  writer  at  the  end  of  the  point. 

21  An  obliterated  bank  was  on  the  lowland  nearly  half  a  mile 
back  of  Long  point,  two  miles  above  Bemus  point. — Reynolds, 
p.  506 

22  At  Griffith's  point  in  Ellery,  east  of  Chautauqua  lake,  are  two 
mounds. — Young,  p.  20.  ^Ir  Cheney  placed  them  near  the  Nar- 
rows and  100  rods  from  the  shore,  directly  in  the  rear  of  the  point. 
They  were  5  rods  apart,  66  feet  in  diameter  and  6  feet  high.  Fig. 
21  is  his  plan  reduced  to  1000  feet  to  the  inch. — Cheney,  p.  47,  pi.  12. 
They  were  afterward  examined  and  reported  as  40  feet  in  diameter. 
Three  human  skeletons  were  found,  also  one  of  a  wolf,  besides 
copper  articles  and  mica.  Still  later  Mr  Reynolds  described  them 
as  near  Bemus  point.  One  was  6  feet  high  and  39  feet  in  diameter. 
This  contained  copper  articles  and  mica.  The  other  was  5  feet 
high  and  65  feet  across.  There  were  traces  of  an  earthwork  back 
of  the  point. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  505-6 

23  There  was  a  circular  work  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Sin- 
clairville  on  lot  46,  Gerry,  with  an  area  of  3  acres.  It  yielded  skele- 
tons and  rude  stone  implements.  A  large  cemetery  was  130  rods 
northeast  of  this,  out  of  which  50  skeletons  were  taken  in  1825  and 
25  about  30  years  later.  They  were  in  a  sitting  posture,  the  alternate 


46 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


rows  facing  each  other. — Young,  p.  19.  This  was  on  B.  F.  Deruii- 
son's  farm,  on  the  Jamestown  road  near  Sinclairville. — U.  S.  bur. 
of  eth.  p.  510.  There  was  also  a  nearly  circular  work  60  rods 
north  of  this  and  on  William  Scott's  land.  It  had  a  depression  in 
the  center  and  a  gate  at  the  north.  It  is  on  lots  30  and  38. — U.  S. 
bur.  of  eth.  p.  510.  There  are  cinder  heaps  on  the  farm  of  John  F. 
Phelps,  a  mile  south  of  Sinclairville. 

24  There  were  two  breastworks  on  the  north  and  south  bounda- 
ries of  Sinclairville,  with  a  large  circular  work  between  them.  The 
gate  was  on  the  south  side.  Six  or  seven  acres  were  inclosed  in 
the  heart  of  the  village.  On  a  high  bluff  above  Mill  creek  on  the 
west  was  a  circular  work  with  deep  excavations. — Young,  p.  19-20. 
A  slightly  curved  bank,  without  gateways  and  100  rods  long,  crosses 
Sinclairville  from  bluflf  to  bluff,  precipices  defending  the  other  sides. 
The  area  is  nearly  square. — Cheney,  p.  45,  pi.  9.  Mr  Cheney's  plan 
is  given  in  fig.  3,  on  a  scale  of  1000  feet  to  the  inch. 

25  There  are  two  works  on  the  farm  of  John  Almy,  South  Stock- 
ton, a  mile  across  the  Cassadaga  valley  and  nearly  60  rods  from 
the  dividing  lines  of  Gerry  and  Ellery.  The  larger  and  southeast- 
ern one  is  in  the  shape  of  the  letter  D,  the  straight  line  fronting 
the  eastern  edge  of  the  bluff.  A  northwest  gateway  connects  with 
a  ravine,  across  which  is  the  gate  of  the  smaller,  opposite  and 
circular  work  about  6  rods  away.  The  latter  incloses  half  an  acre. — 
Larkin,  p.  50,  fig.  11.  Dr  Larkin's  plan  appears  in  fig,  17.  There 
was  a  circular  work  60  rods  south  of  this,  on  the  farm  of  S.  M. 
Tower.  It  "  was  a  true  circle,  facing  the  south  and  divided  in 
the  center  by  a  straight  line."  This  was  on  a  plain  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Cassadaga  valley.  From  the  western  side  of  the  fort 
a  ditch,  20  rods  long,  reached  a  stream  at  a  hight  sufficient  to 
carry  the  water  within  the  walls,  inside  of  which  were  hearths, 
caches,  pottery  and  arrowheads. — Larkin,  p.  53.  Mr  Reynolds  re- 
ports these  rather  differently.  The  one  on  the  Tower  farm  is  80 
rods  south  of  the  others,  and  is  a  circle  inclosing  two  and  a  half 
acres.  The  others  are  in  South  Stockton,  4  miles  southwest  of 
Sinclairville,  and  both  are  called  circular  works.  The  smaller  fort 
has  a  north  and  south  axis  of  132  feet,  and  an  east  and  west  axis  of 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


47 


1 129  feet.  A  thousand  feet  should  be  taken  from  this.  The  other 
is  163  feet  away  and  has  a  north  and  south  axis  of  184  feet,  the  east 
and  west  being  151  feet.  They  are  west  of  the  vahey. — U.  S.  bur. 
of  eth.  p.  510 

26  An  elHptic  work  is  on  a  plateau  150  feet  above  Cassadaga  creek 
and  on  the  north  side  of  a  small  stream.  The  bank  is  495  feet 
around,  with  a  gateway  10  feet  wide.  A  trail  leads  to  the  stream 
and  in  the  center  of  the  work  is  a  large  and  deep  pit. — Cheney,  p.  44, 
pi.  8,  fig.  I.  Mr  Cheney's  plan  appears  in  fig.  9,  on  a  scale  of  250 
feet  to  the  inch. 

27  Another  work  is  on  high  land  160  rods  from  Cassadaga  creek, 
with  a  small  stream  on  the  southern  side.  Many  skeletons  wdthin 
had  horizontal  burial.  Within  and  without  were  vast  quantities  of 
implements  and  large  caches  were  near.  From  the  gate  in  the 
northeast  part  a  trail  led  to  a  cemetery  50  rods  away.  Here  were 
three  large  rectangular  graves  with  from  30  to  60  skeletons  in  a 
sitting  posture. — Cheney,  p.  45,  pi.  8,  fig.  2.  ^^Ir  Cheney's  plan  is 
given  in  fig.  4,  on  a  scale  of  500  feet  to  the  inch. 

28  In  "  the  village  of  BuckHn's  corners  was  an  ancient  cemetery 
where  a  great  number  of  human  skeletons  have  been  exhumed." — 
Larkin,  'p.  50.  Bucklin's  corners,  or  Gerry  center,  is  now  in  the 
village  of  Vermont.  Three  quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  this  was  an 
elliptic  work  of  7  acres,  on  high  ground  overlooking  the  Cassadaga 
valley.   Much  of  this  was  visible  in  1880  according  to  Dr  Larkin. 

29  Two  miles  southeast  of  Sinclairville  was  a  circular  work. — 
Young,  p.  19 

30  An  oval  work  was  3  miles  south  of  Sinclairville,  on  Shepard- 
son's  farm. — Reynolds 

31  Two  semicircular  works  on  Clear  creek  were  reported  by  Mr 
Thatcher.  They  were  3  miles  west  of  Ellington  and  a  mile  above 
no.  34.  They  were  on  bluffs  and  each  had  an  area  of  one  and  one 
half  acres.  One  was  double-walled,  the  walls  turning  out  at  the 
gateway,  in  front  of  which  was  a  small  mound. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth. 
p.  509 

32  Two  works  on  opposite  sides  of  Clear  creek  are  56  rods  apart. 
One   on   a  high   peninsula  is   a  parallelogram  with  rounded 


48  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

angles,  having'  indications  of  bastions  or  towers  on  them.  The  gate 
was  at  the  south  and  the  area  was  less  than  two  acres.  The  other  is 
circular  and  about  800  feet  around.  The  relics  are  of  an  early  type. 
They  are  one  and  one  half  miles  farther  up  the  valley  than  the  next. 
— Cheney,  p.  44 

33  An  angular  work  is  on  a  precipitous  hill  125  feet  high.  It  is 
in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram,  290  by  627  feet.  In  the  center  of 
the  south  wall  is  a  wide  gatew^ay,  "  with  elevated  mounds  upon  each 
side  to  guard  the  entrance.  ,  .  Along  the  buttress,  extending 
upon  the  northern  side  of  the  hill,  were  vast  masses  of  stones,"  ap- 
parently for  defense.  Great  quantities  of  relics  have  been  found. — 
Cheney,  p.  43,  pi.  7.  Dr  Larkin  places  this  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
Ellington  village,  but  Mr  Reynolds  assigns  it  to  the  Boyd  farm,  two 
miles  above  Ellington.  There  are  stone  relics. — U .  S.  bur.  of  eth. 
p.  508.  Mr  Cheney's  plan  appears  in  fig.  19,  on  a  scale  of  250  feet 
to  the  inch. 

34  Two  circular  works  52  fods  apart,  are  one  and  one  half  miles 
above  Ellington.  Each  is  about  650  feet  around,  and  the  ditch 
seemed  inside. — Cheney,  p.  43.  Two  circular  works  were  on  the 
north  side  of  Clear  creek  two  miles  above  Ellington,  on  F.  Law- 
rence's farm.  One  was  190  feet  in  diameter.  Opposite  these,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  creek,  was  the  large  parallelogram  work  last 
described,  two  miles  above  -Ellington.  Mr  Reynolds  gave  a 
plan  of  one  of  these  circular  works,  which  is  essentially  reproduced 
in  fig.  90.  Another  fort  was  almost  beside  it. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth. 
p.  508,  fig.  334 

35  The  "  Old  fort  "  is  an  elliptic  work  in  Ellington  on  the  north 
bank  of  Clear  creek,  on  a  hill,  the  top  of  which  it  surrounds. 
The  area  is  175  by  320  feet  and  the  two  gateways,  each  6  feet  wide, 
are  on  the  north  and  southeast  sides. — Cheney,  p.  43,  pi.  6,  fig.  2. 
Mr  Cheney's  plan  appears  in  fig.  5,  on  a  scale  of  250  feet  to  the 
inch.  It  is  on  Sect's  farm,  just  north  of  the  village  of  Ellington. 
Mr  Reynolds  saw  but  one  gateway  and  gives  a  plan.  It  contains  3 
acres.  Remcasurcment  makes  it  170  by  270  feet.  A  handcuff  and 
part  of  an  iron  kettle  have  been  found.  He  also  reported  a  circular 
work  of  two  acres  in  the  village.    This  was  south  of  the  last,  and  on 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


49 


S.  G.  Baldwin's  bottom  lands  east  of  Clear  creek. — U,  S.  bur.  of  cfh. 
p.  507 

36  An  elliptic  work  in  Ellington,  on  Clear  creek,  is  168  by  218 
feet.  There  is  no  trench  and  the  wall  is  wide.  A  stone  mound,  4 
feet  wide  and  5  feet  high,  is  70  rods  away  and  toward  the  creek. — 
Cheney,  p.  42,  pi.  6,  fig.  i.  This  plan  appears  in  fig.  13  on  a  scale 
of  250  feet  to  one  inch.  It  is  on  Charles  Gapleson's  land,  south  side 
of  Clear  creek  and  2  miles  east  of  Ellington. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth. 
p.  508 

37  Two  bone  mounds  were  in  Ellicott.  One  was  near  Dexter- 
ville  and  the  other  on  Tiffany's  farm.  Near  the  latter  were  fortifica- 
tions.— Young 

38  There  w^re  two  mounds  on  Albert  Tiffany's  farm  on  the  line 
of  the  Holland  purchase,  one  and  one  half  miles  east  of  Jamestown 
on  the  Ellington  road.  A  gorget  was  found  in  one. — U.  S.  bur.  of 
eth.  p.  505 

39  There  was  a  semicircular  bank  near  Falconer's,  on  the  James- 
town and  Ellington  road.  It  was  near  a  stream  and  was  540  feet 
long. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  505 

40  An  artificial  mound  containing  large  French  knives  and  other 
relics, 'was  opened  near  Jamestown  a  few  years  since. 

41  Skeletons  were  found  under  a  large  stump  in  Frewsburg. 

42  Large  numbers  of  human  bones  have  been  found  near  Fen- 
tonville. — Larkin,  p.  60 

43  While  digging  a  cellar  on  the  lake  front  at  Chautauqua,  Sep. 
27,  1898,  the  W'Orkmen  exhumed  12  skulls  and  other  bones. 

44  ]\Iarcus  Sackett  reports  a  half  circular  fort  near  Hanover 
Center,  through  which  the  highw^ay  passes.  Obliterated.  A  few 
arrowheads  are  still  found. 

Chemung  county.  This  county  seems  to  have  been  occupied 
about  the  time  of  the  discovery  by  a  nation  of  the  Iroquois  family 
at  war  with  the  Five  Nations.  They  are  thought  to  have  been  the 
people  whose  aid  Champlain  expected  in  his  attack  on  the  Iroquois 
fort  in  161 5.  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  has  no  doubt  that  they  were  those 
mentioned  in  the  description  of  Champlain's  map  as  "  Carantouanis 
a  nation  to  the  south  of  the  Antouhonorons  in  a  very  beautiful  and 
rich  country  wdiere  they  are  strongly  lodged,  and  are  friends  with 


50  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

all  the  other  nations  except  the  Antouhonorons,  from  whom  they 
are  only  three  days  distant."  He  thinks  Spanish  hill  was  their 
stronghold.  The  Antouhonorons  were  the  Upper  Iroquois  or  per- 
haps more  strictly  the  Senecas.  The  Dutch  had  some  early  knowl- 
edge of  these  dwellers  on  the  Susquehanna.  On  the  maps  of 
1614  and  1616  they  appear  as  the  Gachoos  or  Gachoi,  south  of  the 
Senecas,  the  common  Dutch  term  for  all  the  Upper  Iroquois.  The 
Iroquois  and  their  dependents  had  villages  there  before  the  revolu- 
tion. 

1  Runonvea  was  a  village  at  Big  Flats  burned  in  1779. 

2  Site  on  the  Weston  farm  about  3  miles  north  of  Horseheads 
and  on  the  ridges  both  sides  of  Catharine  creek.  Pottery  and 
arrowheads.    A  trail  followed  the  ridge. 

3  Site  west  of  trail  and  east  of  the  Northern  Central  railroad  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  Horseheads.    Early  reUcs. 

4  Large  'site  on  Arnot  estate  a  mile  southeast  of  Horseheads. 
Pestles,  celts  and  arrowheads.  Trait  and  arrowheads  on  east  bank. 
A  number  of  these  sites  were  furnished  by  Ward  E.  Bryan  of 
Elmira. 

5  On  Latta  brook  road  near  the  end  of  the  ridge  and  two  miles 
south  of  Horseheads  was  a  site  with  fine  relics  and  numerous  pestles. 

6  A  mile  southeast  of  Big  Flats  and  northwest  of  the  mouth  of 
Sing  Sing  creek  is  a  site  with  pottery,  pestles  and  articles  of  stone. 

7  Near  the  last  and  much  like  it.  The  trail  ended  here  and  graves 
have  been  found. 

8  Site  of  one  acre  where  a  bridge  from  Big  Flats  crosses  the 
river.    Flint  flakes,  pottery  and  small  arrowheads. 

9  Fort  Hill,  Fort  Henderson  and  Mount  Zoar  are  names  for  an 
eminence  southwest  of  Elmira  and  south  of  the  river.  A  work 
there  has  been  described  and  figured  by  several.  Thomas  Maxweirs 
plan  and  account  are  in  Schoolcraft's  North  American  Indians.  He 
describes  it  as  three  miles  west  of  Elmira  and  south  of  Chemung 
river  with  a  bank  270  feet  long,  3  to  4  feet  high  and  6  to  9  wide  on 
top.  There  was  a  row  of  holes  two  feet  apart  east  of  the  bank,  with 
a  vacancy  of  12  feet  in  the  center  for  a  gateway.  A  larger  post  was 
on  each  side  of  this,  which  is  a  frequent  thing.  Prof.  Horsford  re- 
ported it  for  Mr  Squier  and  his  plan  is  given  in  fig.  23.    There  was 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


a  bank  about  200  feet  long,  14  feet  broad  at  the  base  and  34  feet 
high.  A  double  Hne  of  holes  about  a  foot  deep  extended  along  the 
top.  There  were  several  parallel  furrows  inside  the  bank  partially 
crossing  the  area.  It  is  on  a  ridge  washed  on  one  side  by  the 
Chemung.—Squicr,  p.  53-54 

10  Kanawlohalla,  burned  in  1779,  was  in  Elmira  at  the  junction  of 
Newtown  creek  with  the  Chemung.  Two  other  villages  have  been 
mentioned  in  Elmira,  one  near  the  Rathbun  house  and  one  near 
Wisner  park. — Tozvncr,  p.  24 

1 1  A  small  village  called  Middletown  between  Newtown  and  Ka- 
nawlohalla was  burned  in  1779. — Sullivan,  p.  128 

12  On  the  Nichols  farm  opposite  the  Sullivan  monument  is  a 
considerable  site  with  many  relics,  but  there  are  fewer  aboriginal 
traces  south  of  Elmira  than  north. 

13  Chemung  a  town  burned  in  1779  having  50  or  60  houses.  On 
the  left  or  north  bank  of  the  Chemung  west  of  the  Narrows  and 
three  miles  from  the  present  Chemung  village. — Sullivan,  p.  127. 
Old  Chemung  on  the  same  bank  half  a  mile  above  the  present  vil- 
lage was  also  burned. — Sullivan,  p.  125 

14  A  small  and  new  village  on  both  sides  of  Baldwin's  creek  and 
north eAst  of  the  battle  field  was  burned  in  1779.  Another  village 
was  near  this. — Sullivan,  p.  127 

15  Newtown  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Chemung  was  five  miles 
below  Elmira  and  a  mile  above  the  battle  field  of  Aug.  29,  1779. — 
Sullivan,  p.  127.    The  battle  was  near  Lowman's. 

16  A  small  village  near  the  river  on  one  of  its  tributaries  and  two 
miles  above  the  battle  field. — Sullivan,  p.  127 

17  The  remaining  Chemung  sites  were  reported  by  Percy  L. 
Lang.  A  village  southwest  of  Lowman  and  another  one  and  one 
half  miles  east  on  the  river. 

18  Camps  on  both  sides  of  the  river  at  Chemung. 

19  Camps  and  a  village  north  of  the  river,  near  Wynkoop  creek. 
Chenango  county,    i.  A  horseshoe-shaped  gravel  bank,  four 

miles  north  of  Sherburne  and  a  mile  west  of  Handsome  brook  with 
a  curious  extension  seems  a  natural  formation,  but  arrowheads 
occur  in  the  vicinity. — Hatch,  p.  74 


52  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

2  West  of  the  river  and  opposite  Sherburne  were  four  or  five  open 
caches,  close  together  and  four  to  six  feet  deep  and  wide.  In  a  field 
north  were  stone  chisels,  pestles,  axes  and  arrowheads. — Hatch,  p. 
74.    This  was  one  and  one  half  miles  northwest  of  the  village. 

3  Human  bones  were  also  found  in  digging  the  canal  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river. — Hatch,  p.  75 

4  In  the  present  burial  ground  on  the  south  boundary  of  Nor- 
wich were  human  bones  in  great  abundance,  the  skeletons  buried 
nearly  upright,  on  the  farm  of  C.  M.  Rouse.  Near  the  residence  of 
the  late  Abel  Chandler  in  Norwich  was  a  mound  much  like  western 
ones. — Randall,  p.  13 

5  The  Indian  fields  a  mile  below  the  creek  bridge  at  Norwich  was 
a  favorite  Indian  residence,  and  also  the  plain  now  occupied  by 
Norwich.  Large  flint  arrowheads  have  been  found  near  that  village 
and  stone  axes  on  the  Unadilla. — Child.  Directory,  1869-70.  Mr 
Squier  quotes  from  Clinton :  "  There  is  also  a  place  at  Norwich  on 
a  high  bank  of  the  river  called  the  Castle^  where  the  Indians  lived 
at  the  period  of  our  settlement  of  the  country,  and  where  some 
vestiges  of  a  fortification  appear,  but  in  all  probability  of  much 
more  modern  date  than  those  at  Oxford." — Squier,  p.  47.  Randall 
says  there  was  a  recent  work  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  a  mile 
south  of  Norwich  called  the  Castle,  much  frequented  by  the  Indians 
when  the  whites  came.  There  were  traces  of  Indian  villages  near 
this. — Hist.  mag.  1873,  p.  13.  On  the  west  of  the  river,  he  adds, 
opposite  this,  was  a  space  of  a  mile  from  north  to  south  much  fre- 
quented and  called  the  Indian  fields. 

6  Skeletons  were  found  in  digging  the  Chenango  canal  four  miles 
north  of  Oxford,  near  the  old  Gates  tavern  or  Halfway  house. — 
Hist.  mag.  1873,  p.  13.  West  side  of  the  river.  Along  the  river  are 
found  earthenware,  drills,  arrowheads  and  flakes. 

7  A  semicircular  bank  and  trench  in  the  village  of  Oxford  oc- 
cupied an  eminence  three  or  four  acres  in  extent.  The  river  is  on 
the  west  side  of  this  eminence,  which  rises  abruptly  from  the  flats, 
and  the  descent  to  the  water  is  precipitous.  The  bank  was  the  base 
of  the  half  circle  and  there  were  narrow  openings  at  the  ends  for 
gateways.    The  area  was  three  fourths  of  an  acre.    Mr  Clinton  says 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


53 


it  was  densely  wooded  when  first  known  to  the  whites.  "  The  In- 
dians have  a  tradition  that  the  family  of  the  Antones,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  belong  to  the  Tuscarora  nation,  is  the  seventh  generation 
from  the  inhabitants  of  this  fort,  but  of  its  origin  they  know  noth- 
ing. .  .  No  implements  or  utensils  have  been  found,  only 
some  fragments  of  coarse  pottery  roughly  ornamented." — Squier,  p. 
46.  S.  S.  Randall  says  fliere  were  many  Indian  relics  at  this 
point  and  in  the  fort^  as  stone  axes,  chisels  and  flint  arrowheads. 
The  absence  of  such  things  is  a  curious  feature  of  some  earthworks. 

8  On  the  east  side  of  the  Chenango  four  miles  south  of  Oxford 
on  Padget's  brook,  were  25  distinct  old  embankments  adjacent  to 
each  other.  There  were  also  traces  of  graves  near  by,  lined  above 
and  below  with  cobble  stones.  The  upper  stratum  of  these  had 
fallen  in. — Hist.  mag.  1873,  P-  ^3 

9  In  the  township  of  Greene  about  two  miles  below  the  bridge 
and  30  rods  from  the  river,  was  a  circular  burial  mound  which  was 
originally  6  feet  high  and  40  in  diameter.  It  was  opened  in  1829 
and  abundant  human  bones  were  found,  and  much  deeper  beneath 
them  were  others  which  had  been  burned.  It  was  not  an  orderly 
burial,  and  the  bones  crumbled  on  being  exposed.  In  one  part 
were  aliout  200  yellow  and  black  jasper  arrowheads,  and  60  more 
in  another  place.  "  Also  a  silver  band  or  ring  about  two  inches  in 
diameter,  wide  but  thin  and  with  what  appeared  to  be  the  remains 
of  a  reed  pipe  within  it.  A  number  of  stone  gouges  or  chisels  of 
different  shapes,  and  a  piece  of  mica  cut  in  the  form  of  a  heart,  the 
border  much  decayed  and  the  laminae  separated,  were  also  dis- 
covered."— Wilkinson.  This  account  is  quoted  by  many.  INIuch  of 
the  material  discovered  was  a  secondary  burial.  It  is  near  the 
mouth  of  Geneganstlet  creek. 

10  An  Oneida  village  has  been  described  at  Chenango  Forks. 
The  cemetery  was  on  the  east  side  of  Tioughnioga  river,  on  the  site 
of  the  present  village.  It  is  reported  that  crouching  bodies,  covered 
with  stones,  were  found.    Modern  relics. 

11  "In  the  town  of  New  Berlin  adjacent  to  the  Indian  fields  of 
Otsego  county,  gun  barrels,  stone  tomahawks  and  human  skeletons 


54  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

>- 

have  been  plowed  up."  This  was  on  the  farm  of  Mr  Scribner. — 
Child.  Directory,  1869-70 

12  Conihttnto  was  four  miles  below  Unadilla  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Susquehanna,  and  was  also  called  Gunnygunter.  It  was  de- 
stroyed in  1778. — Sullivan,  p.  23.  But  for  the  situation  this  might 
be  supposed  a  corruption  of  Oneonta.  There  was  also  a  Mohawk 
village  farther  down  but  north  of  Oquaga^  called  Wauteghe  and  sug- 
gesting the  later  Otego. 

13  A  few  hut  rings  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of  Greene  were 
on  the  river  bank.    Relics  all  the  way  to  Greene. 

14  Mr  Hildburgh  reports  a  camp  site  about  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  north  of.  Greene  and  on  a  hill  near  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

15  Fishing  camps  along  the  river  between  Greene  and  Chenango 
Forks. 

16  F.  H.  Williams,  of  Greene,  writes,  "  There  were  many  camp 
sites  here,  about  20  within  five  miles  of  Greene.  In  fact  at  any  place 
along  the  Chenango  river  where  a  spring  is  or  was  found,  you  can 
be  fairly  sure  of  a  camp  site."  He  describes  a  very  large  one  on 
Indian  brook,  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Greene  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river.  The  site  is  a  mile  from  the  Chenango,  and 
there  are  about  70  hut  rings  arranged  in  three  groups.  Those 
farthest  down  the  brook  are  in  two  Hues,  eight  to  10  feet  apart  in 
the  rows.  The  next  group  is  similar  and  about  30  rods  away. 
These  might  be  long  houses  quite  as  well.  The  third  is  in  the  form 
of  a  crescent,  and  there  are  also  a  few  scattered  fire  places.  The 
relics  are  early. 

17  There  is  a  large  camp  at  Stillwater  flats,  about  five  miles  south 
of  Greene  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river. 

Clinton  county.  Though  the  place  where  the  French  and  Iro- 
quois first  met  in  battle,  little  was  known  of  the  aboriginal  occupa- 
tion of  the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain  until  1878.  Dr  D.  S.  Kel- 
logg of  Plattsburg  then  commenced  investigations,  and  within  four 
or  five  years  located  "  21  other  dwelling  sites  in  the  Champlain  valley 
from  He  Aux  Noix  in  the  River  Richelieu,  to  Ticonderoga  on  Lake 
Champlain."    He  had  just  described  a  Plattsburg  site,  and  the  quo- 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


55 


tations  to  be  made  are  from  a  paper  in  Proceedings  of  A.  A.  A.  S. 
1887,  p.  308. 

He  knew  of  others  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  and  thought  there 
were  others  as  yet  unknown.  There  are  no  earthworks  or  mounds 
and  few  graves  had  been  found.  The  stone  rehcs  were  of  the  usual 
kinds  and  at  that  date  over  20,000  had  been  collected.  "  Grooved 
axes  and  nicely  grooved  hammers,  pestles  and  ornaments  are  rare. 
The  material  of  which  the  chipped  implements  were  made  is  found 
throughout  the  whole  region.  The  so-called  flint  is  abundant  in  the 
limestone  of  the  locality.  On  Butler's  island  in  Lake  Champlain 
detached  pieces  of  the  dark  and  striated  flint,  a  foot  or  more  in 
diameter,  are  so  driven  against  each  other  by  the  action  of  the  waves 
that  their  surfaces  resemble  the  roughened  surfaces  of  ordinary  flint 
hammers.  Of  copper  spearheads,  hatchets  and  gouges,  about  two 
dozen  have  been  found.  These  have  been  entirely  surface  or  field 
finds.  Not  a  copper  relic  has  yet  been  obtained  from  a  dw^elling 
site.  Bone  awls,  punches  and  harpoons  are  found  only  in  connec- 
tion with  broken  animal  bones  and  other  remains  in  some  of  the  fire- 
places. Pottery,  entirely  in  fragments,  is  abundant.  In  fact  I 
should  hardly  claim  a  place  to  be  a  village  site  unless  a  considerable 
amount  hi  pottery  were  found  in  it.  Pipes,  both  of  pottery  and  of 
stone,  plain,  ornamented,  and  sometimes  representing  the  head  of  a 
bird  or  of  some  other  animal,  are  not  very  rare." 

Some  of  the  aborigines  however  did  not  use  pottery,  but  vessels 
of  bark.  The  occurrence  of  naturally  worked  flints  may  be  com- 
pared with  the  Jesuit  account  of  the  collecting  of  these  near  Crown 
Point  in  1668.  The  occupation  of  Lake  Champlain  before  the 
Huron  war  is  attested  by  the  French  explorer.  He  saw  four  beauti- 
ful islands,  10,  12  and  13  leagues  in  length  formerly  inhabited,  as 
well  as  the  Iroquois  river,  by  Indians,  but  "  abandoned  since  they 
had  been  at  war  the  one  with  the  other."  Looking  at  the  Green 
Mountains,  he  "  asked  the  Indians  if  those  parts  were  inhabited. 
They  answered  me,  Yes,  and  that  they  were  Iroquois,  and  that  there 
were  in  those  parts  beautiful  valleys  and  fields  fertile  in  corn."  On 
the  Dutch  map  of  1616  the  east  side  of  the  lake  is  termed  Irocoisia. 


56  JSTEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Dr  Kellogg  gave  an  account  of  a  Plattsburg  site  as  a  sample  of 
others.  The  following  list  he  sent  without  notes.  They  are  mostly 
on  the  lake. 

1  West  side  of  the  county  on  the  south  line  of  EUenburg  at  Mer- 
rill's north  end  of  Upper  Chateaugay  lake,  east  side  of  the  outlet. 

2  On  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Champlain  north  of  Rouse  Point. 

3  At  Coopersville  in  the  same  town  and  east  of  Chazy  river. 

4  Two  sites  on  the  lake  shore  at  the  commencement  and  end  of 
Pointe  au  Fer. 

5  In  the  same  town  and  on  the  lake  shore,  four  sites  from  King's 
bay  to  the  south  line  of  the  town. 

6  Near  the  north  line  of  Chazy  on  the  lake  shore  and  north  of 
Little  Chazy  river. 

7  In  Beekmantown  and  near  the  north  line.  Two  sites  on  the 
south  shore  of  Monty's  bay. 

8  In  the  same  town,  on  the  north  shore  of  Tredwell's  bay. 

9  A  site  north  of  East  Beekmantown. 

10  In  town  of  Plattsburg  near  the  north  line.  A  site  west  of 
Woodruff  pond  and  two  between  it  and  the  lake. 

11  Four  sites  at  the  head  of  Cumberland  bay  in  the  same  town. 

12  A  site  about  half-way  along  the  outside  shore  of  Cumberland 
head. 

13  One  in  the  city  of  Plattsburg  on  the  shore  north  of  the  Saranac 
river. 

14  One  in  the  same  town  a  mile  east  of  Morrisonville  and  on  the 
northeast  side  of  Saranac  river. 

15  At  Fredenburg  falls  south  of  the  river. 

16  On  the  lake  shore  in  the  same  town  is  a  site  south  of  a  small 
creek  and  north  of  Bluff  point.  There  are  also  two  sites  between 
Bluff  point  and  a  stream  on  the  south. 

17  A  site  is  on  the  lake  shore  on  a  small  creek  at  the  south  line  of 
the  town  of  Plattsburg. 

18  A  site  on  the  west  shore  of  Valcour  island  south  of  a  projecting 
point. 

19  A  site  in  the  town  of  Saranac  near  the  east  line.  It  is  south  of 
the  Saranac  river,  and  one  and  one  half  miles  southwest  of  Elsinore. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


57 


20  In  Schuyler  Falls,  one  and  one  half  miles  southwest  of  Mor- 
risonville. 

21  Near  the  south  line  of  Schuyler  Falls  and  on  the  Salmon  river 
a  mile  east  of  the  village  of  Schuyler  Falls. 

22  On  the  lake  shore  at  Port  Jackson  in  Peru. 

23  In  the  same  town  near  the  mouth  of  Little  Ausable  river. 

24  Three  between  this  and  Bagg's  on  the  Ausable. 

25  In  Peru  on  the  end  of  Ausable  point. 

26  In  Ausable  near  the  north  line  on  the  Little  Ausable,  half  a 
mile  north  of  Harkness. 

27  In  the  same  town  southeast  of  Ausable  station,  a  mile  north  of 
the  river  and  two  east  of  the  railroad.  Another  south  of  Arnold 
hill. 

28  There  is  a  workshop  of  half  an  acre  a  mile  north  of  the  Little 
Ausable,  and  about  four  miles  from  both  Ausable  Forks  and  Clinton- 
ville.    Flint  chips  are  abundant,  with  a  few  arrowheads. 

There  is  a  site  on  the  west  shore  of  North  Hero  island  at  the  south 
end  and  opposite  Long  point.  Another  is  toward  the  south  end  of 
South  Hero  on  the  west  shore  and  northeast  of  Providence  island. 
Some  remarkable  relics  have  been  found  on  the  northeast  shore  of 
the  lal^. 

Columbia  county.  This  was  in  the  jNIahikan  territory  and  the 
title  was  early  extinguished.  There  were  some  small  villages  of 
river  Indians,  but  little  has  been  reported. 

1  A  spring  on  the  side  of  jMount  Tom  in  Copake  was  called  Tagh- 
kanick,  and  was  a  favorite  Indian  resort. 

2  A  place  called  by  the  natives  Wawanaquassick,  where  the 
heaps  of  stone  lie,  being  near  the  head  of  a  certain  kill  or  creek 
called  Nanapenahakan,  which  comes  out  of  a  marsh  lying  near  the 
said  hills  of  the  said  heaps  of  stones,  upon  which  the  Indians  throw 
one  upon  another  as  they  pass  by,  from  an  ancient  custom  among 
theni." — Doc.  hist.  N.  Y.  3  1693 .  This  was  on  the  north  line  of  Liv- 
ingston Manor  and  on  the  north  line  of  Taghkanick  also.  Such 
heaps  have  been  found  elsewhere  in  New  England  and  in  New  York. 

3  In  the  state  museum  are  arrowheads  from  Stuyvesant. 

4  S.  L.  Frey  reported  a  village  site  at  Catskill  station. 


58  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Few  sites  have  been  reported  in  this  county,  but  from  the  many 
Indian  names  and  favorable  places  there  should  be  more. 

Cortland  county.  Cortland  county  was  little  more  than  a 
thoroughfare  for  the  aborigines,  nor  was  it  much  used  in  this  way 
until  after  1700,  when  the  Iroquois  had  frequent  business  with  Penn- 
sylvania. An  account  of  some  curious  caches  in  Homer  has  an  ex- 
travagant sounds  but  others  have  been  found  between  Cortland  and 
the  Tioughnioga  river.  FHnt  arrowheads  have  been  found  im- 
bedded in  trees  on  the  west  bank  of  this  stream.  Mr  Goodwin 
opened  a  mound  in  1855,  which  contained  charcoal,  fragments  of 
mouldering  bones  and  singularly  wrought  impressions  on  the  sur- 
face of  dark,  slatish  colored  stones." — Goodzvin,  p.  141.  The 
locality  was  not  given. 

1  A  small  site  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river  north  of  Blodgett 
Mills,  with  arrowheads  and  other  articles. 

2  Dr  Hunt  built  a  house  in  1794  a  mile  south  of  Marathon  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  It  was  on  a  knoll  where  there  were  many 
circular  depressions  near  together.  About  1850  these  graves  were 
opened,  and  earthen  vessels  and  human  bones  were  found. — Good- 
win, p.  226 

3  A  camp  in  Lapeer  south  of  Mr  Genung's  house  on  a  bluflf 
near  and  overlooking  Big  brook. — Goodzvin,  p.  259 

Delaware  county,  i  There  was  an  Indian  fort  at  Sidney  Plains^ 
of  three  acres  inclosed  by  mounds  and  surrounded  by  a  ditch.  It 
was  on  the  Susquehanna  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Sidney.  ''From 
early  times  the  place  has  been  called  the  fort  grounds." — French, 
p.  264.  This  may  be  the  fort  of  which  David  Cusick  spoke  as  the 
second  home  of  the  giant,  the  first  being  at  Oxford. 

2  There  was  an  Indian  village  at  the  mouth  of  Cole's  brook,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Delaware  in  Colchester.  Some  apple-trees  re- 
mained.— French,  p.  260 

3  "  Near  the  mouth  of  Mill  brook  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Dela- 
ware are  certain  remains  which  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  works 
of  art.  Many  suppose  them  to  have  been  ancient  fortifications  or 
works  of  defense.  In  the  vicinity  was  once  found  what  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  a  stone  battle  axe,  and  arrowheads  existed  in 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF   NEW  YORK  59 

great  abundance  in  that  immediate  locality.  .  .  They  are  two 
in  number,  each  of  a  circular  form,  and  they  were  surrounded  by  a 
high  embankment  protected  by  a  deep  ditch.  The  one  on  the  cast 
side  of  the  river  has  been  passed  over  many  times  with  the  plow, 
but  much  of  its  original  form  and  symmetry  are  still  visible.  The 
other,  on  the  opposite  side,  farther  down  the  stream,  is  still  sur- 
rounded by  a  deep  ditch,  filled  with  growing  trees  and  underwood, 
but  has  less  regularity  and  will  not  so  soon  attract  the  attention  of 
the  antiquarian." — Gould,  p.  50,  51.  Mr  Gould's  plan  appears  in 
fig.  24.  This  may  be  the  one  to  which  Schoolcraft  alluded  in  his 
report  (p.  208)  On  branch  of  the  Delaware  a  fort  one  thousand 
years  old  by  trees." 

4  T.  L.  Bishop  reports  this  and  the  following.  Relics  occur 
near  a  large  boulder  at  Ouleout  postoffice,  a  traditional  meeting 
place  for  Indians. 

5  Several  banner  stones  were  found  at  the  \'lie  on  the  mountain 
three  miles  south  of  Oneonta. 

6  An  old  Indian  orchard  is  on  the  north  side  of  Charlotte  river, 
west  of  West  Davenport,  and  an  old  trail. 

7  Village  of  Adiquatangie  at  West  Davenport. 

There  were  trails  in  this  county  and  some  Delawares  lived  near 
the  head  of  the  east  branch  of  the  Susquehanna. — Doc.  Jiist.  X.  Y. 
7  .'50.  The  Susquehanna  valley  is  said  to  be  rich  in  relics  between 
Otego  and  Afton. 

Dutchess  county.  This  county  lies  south  of  the  ^lahikan  terri- 
tory, though  at  one  time  some  of  this  tribe  were  on  Wappinger 
creek.  The  Wiccopees  were  above  the  Highlands  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  and  the  A\'appingers  lived  on  ]^Iatteawan  creek  and  east- 
ward to  the  Taghkanick  mountains.  The  Sepascots  were  at  Rhine- 
beck,  but  of  the  exact  location  of  their  villages  we  have  no  definite 
notes.  A  few  Esopus  Indians  were  also  on  the  east  shore  of  the 
Hudson  in  1663,  opposite  ]\Iagdalen  island. 

I  A  recent  village  two  miles  south  of  Bethel  or  Pine  Plains,  was 
the  Moravian  mission  of  1740. — Smith.  Dutchess,  p.  302.  French 
places  this  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  "  at  an  Indian  mission  house  at 
the  north  end  of  Indian  lake.  The  remains  of  this  old  mission  house 
are  still  visible  on  the  farm  of  Douglas  Clark." — French,  p.  273 


6o  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

2  Cemetery  on  lands  of  Myron  P.  Benton  and  also  near  Amasa  D. 
Coleman's  in  Amenia. — Smith.    Dutchess,  p.  113 

3  Council  grove  at  the  Nook,  by  the  river  in  South  Amenia,  and 
some  cabins  at  the  outlet  of  Smith's  pond. — Smith.  Dutchess,  p. 
113 

4  Some  recent  graves  on  Apple  Sauce  hill  in  Dover  were  probably 
Pequots. — Smith.    Dutchess,  p.  155 

5  In  October  1882  six  skeletons  were  exhumed  at  Fox's  point, 
Poughkeepsie.  All  the  relics  near  these  were  early.  Some  were 
found  east  of  the  railroad. — Smithsonian  report,  1883 

6  A  village  with  recent  relics  at  Noxon  meadow  in  Beekman. — 
Smith.    Dutchess  J  p.  135 

7  A  cache  of  flint  was  found  at  Green  Haven,  in  the  west  part 
of  Beekman. — Smithsonian  report,  1877,  p.  307-8 

8  In  the  same  original  town,  but  in  the  part  now  called  La 
Grange,  "  On  the  Sprout  creek,  which  rises  in  this  town  a  great 
quantity  of  bones  have  been  accidentally  discovered,  lying  promis- 
cuously as  if  a  vast  pile  of  human  bodies  had  here  been  made  and 
left  to  rot." — Barter,  p.  133 

9  There  were  several  cemeteries  and  orchards  in  Fishkill. — Smith. 
Dutchess,  p.  175.    A  recent  village  was  at  Fishkill  Hook. 

10  J.  W.  Nelson  of  Cold  Spring  located  many  sites  from 
Denning's  point,  Dutchess  county  to  Croton  point,  Westchester  co. 
He  did  most  at  Denning's  point,  at  the  mouth  of  Matteawan  creek. 
There  he  found  early  fireplaces  and  graves,  of  which  he  sent  in- 
teresting notes  to  the  writer.  A  large  grooved  stone  was  obtained 
there  and  also  a  broken  one. 

11  This  and  the  next  are  reported  by  S.  L.  Frey.  Village  site 
at  Tivoli. 

12  Village  at  Staatsburg. 

13  Village  at  Milton  Ferry. 

Erie  county.  Three  Neutral  towns  were  east  of  the  Niagara 
river  in  1626  but  may  have  been  in  Niagara  county.  Two  of  them 
were  Onontisaston  and  Ouaroronon,  one  of  these  being  near  the 
Seneca  towns.  In  1640  the  most  eastern  Neutral  village  was  On- 
guiaahra,  probably  west  of  the  Niagara  river.    After  the  overthrow 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


6i 


of  this  nation  the  Senecas  held  their  territory  though  the  others 
had  a  common  right  to  it.  One  early  map  has  east  of  the  Niagara 
river,  "  Ka  Kouagoga,  nation  detruite."  On  Creuxius's  map  of  1660 
there  are  placed  west  of  the  Senecas,  and  between  them  and  the 
Niagara  river,  Pagus  Ondataius  and  Pagus  Ondiasacus  as  names 
of  the  land,  and  also  P.  Ondieronii.  These  names  may  more 
properly  belong  to  Niagara  county,  though  it  is  yet  disputed 
whether  the  Neutrals  or  Eries  occupied  most  of  Erie  county.  A 
discussion  of  this  would  be  out  of  place  here. 

Dr  A.  L.  Benedict  of  Bufifalo  has  kindly  furnished  a  number  of 
local  sites  but  without  notes.  Those  in  Buffalo  are  mainly  in  two 
groups^  one  about  Forest  Lawn  cemetefry,  and  the  other  on  both 
branches  of  Buffalo  creek.  Most  earthworks  however  are  from 
Air  Squier's  valuable  work,  which  yet  comprises  but  a  part  of  what 
once  existed  here. 

1  A  site  in  the  town  of  Tonawanda  almost  opposite  the  head  of 
Grand  island. 

2  One  on  the  river  bank  at  Buffalo  opposite  Strawberry  island. 
Many  open  air  workshops  occur  along  the  river. 

3  A  large  grave  was  found  near  the  river  in  Black  Rock.  The 
skelet€)ns  were  in  a  circle,  with  their  heads  radiating  from  a  large 
copper  kettle  which  had  been  placed  in  the  center  and  filled  with 
bones."  There  were  other  early  and  modern  articles. — Squier,  p. 
ICQ.  One  of  Dr  Benedict's  groups  lay  east  of  this  and  embraced 
eight  sites. 

4  A  small  mound,  called  Dah-do-sot  or  artificial  hill  by  the 
Senecas,  was  toward  Buffalo  creek,  and  a  mile  nearer  the  center 
of  the  city  than  the  old  fort  on  that  stream.  It  was  originally  5 
feet  high,  and  nearly  40  feet  around,  with  a  corresponding  depres- 
sion on  one  side. — Squier,  p.  74,  75 

5  An  earthwork  on  Buffalo  creek  near  the  city  is  of  about 
four  acres.  Red  Jacket  and  Mary  Jemison  were  originally  buried 
there.  It  was  near  the  old  mission  house;  the  council  house 
was  a  mile  away  toward  Buffalo.  It  was  somewhat  semicircular 
and  had  one  gateway.  Lodge  sites  and  broken  pottery  were  found 
within.     It  was  the  reputed  scene  of  the  last  battle  between 


62  NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

the  Kahkwahs  and  Senecas. — Sqiiier,  p.  73-75,  pi.  9,  no.  i.  Mr 
Squier's  plan  is  given  in  fig.  29,  the  area  being  about  four  acres. 

6  Site  on  Smoke's  creek  on  the  north  side  and  west  of  the  rail- 
road. 

7  Site  near  West  Seneca  station  with  some  more  camps  to  the 
northeast. 

8  A  burial  mound  on  Grand  island  has  been  explored  and  re- 
ported by  H.  L.  Reynolds. 

.  9  North  of  the  group  in  Lancaster,  and  five  or  six  miles  distant 
on  the  limestone  plateau,  was  a  series  of  works  passing  through 
Clarence  and  a  mile  or  two  apart.  The  first  was  two  and  one  half 
miles  south  of.  Clarence  hollow  (Clarence  postoffice).  It  was  a 
curved  bank  across  a  promontory,  with  two  gates  and  broken  pot- 
tery.— Squier,  p.  78,  pi.  10,  no.  2.  Openings  of  a  few  acres  each 
wxre  found  at  the  settlement,  west  and  south  of  Clarence  hollow 
and  along  the  Lancaster  line. — Johnson,  p.  133.  Squier's  plan 
is  in  fig.  32.  A  circular  work  in  Clarence  was  a  mile  north 
of  the  last^  and  about  300  by  400  feet  in  diameter.  Flint  flakes, 
pottery  and  caches  were  within.  A  cemetery  was  reported  between 
this  and  the  last,  and  also  an  ossuary  half  a  mile  northwest,  14 
feet  square  and  4  or  5  feet  deep. — Squier ,  p.  78,  pi.  10,  no.  3.  His 
plan  appears  in  fig.  28.  Mr  Reynolds  reported  this  cemetery  as 
large  and  two  miles  south  of  Clarence  hollow. 

10  A  circular  work  was  on  the  terrace  two  miles  of¥,  not 
far  back  of  Clarence  village. — Squier,  p.  79.  Another  a  mile  beyond 
contained  less  than  an  acre.  The  bank  and  ditch  were  irregular 
in  size  and  there  were  caches  within.  The  work  is  on  a  sandy^ 
slightly  elevated  peninsula,  which  projects  into  a  low  tangled 
swamp."  The  outline  is  elliptic  and  a  cemetery  was  near.  On 
the  plate  it  is  said  to  be  one  and  one  half  miles  southwest  of  Clarence 
hollow,  but  the  text  seems  to  place  it  north. — Squier,  p.  79,  pi.  11, 
no.  I.  His  plan  is  given  in  fig.  33.  A  mile  eastward  was  an 
ossuary  with  400  skeletons,  and  in  the  same  field  were  recent  and 
early  relics.    A  rude  sepulture  was  in  the  rocks. — Squier,  p.  79 

1 1  A  few  miles  from  Clarence  the  Batavia  and  Buffalo  highway 
passed  through  the  last  of  the  Clarence  works.    It  was  on  the 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


63 


Vandewater  farm.  Clarence  works  are  now  obliterated.  "  Some 
bone-pits,  in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  occur  in  Clarence 
township." — Squier,  p.  80,  81 

12  Five  miles  east  of  the  last  mentioned  fort  was  one  at  Fisher's 
falls  in  Newstead,  on  the  south  side  of  Murderer's  creek.  It  was 
somewhat  oval  and  had  caches.  Squier  thought  it  a  work  men- 
tioned by  Kirkland  in  1787. — Squier,  p.  80,  pi  11,  no.  2.  Fig.  30 
represents  this  fort. 

13  A  small  work  on  lot  2,  Lancaster,  was  supposed  to  be  the 
nearest  to  no.  4.  It  was  four  miles  southeast  of  Lancaster  village 
and  near  Little  Buffalo  creek.  Almost  circular,  with  four  gates 
and  several  large  caches.  Area  less  than  an  acre. — Squier,  p.  75, 
pi.  9,  no.  2.  All  Lancaster  sites  are  obliterated.  Fig.  35  is  from 
Squier's  plan,  on  a  scale  of  200  feet  to  i  inch.  Another  was  half 
a  mile  southeast  of  this,  on  or  near  lot  6  Lancaster.  The  outline  has 
been  called  a  curving  triangle  with  five  gates.  The  area  was  over  an 
acre  and  there  were  large  caches. — Squier,  p.  76,  pi.  9,  no.  3.  His 
plan  is  given  in  fig.  27  on  the  same  scale.  On  the  north  side  of 
Little  Bufifalo  creek  was  a  circular  work,  with  five  gateways, 
inclosing  an  acre.  A  mound  was  across  the  stream. — Turner, 
^ol.      35.    Apparently  the  same. 

14  On  the  south  side  of  this  creek,  opposite  the  fort  mentioned, 
and  between  the  creek  and  a  small  stream  entering  it,  is  a  wall 
across  the  point. — Turner.    Hoi.  p.  35 

15  In  Lancaster,  probably  on  lot  3  of  the  late  reservation,  was 
a  curious  work  on  the  south  bank  of  Little  Buffalo  creek.  It  is 
on  a  bluff  nearly  200  feet  high,  and  is  not  large.  It  was  rectangular, 
but  there  were  wide  gaps  between  the  perfect  sections  of  banks. — 
Squier,  p.  77,  pi.  10,  no.  i.    The  plan  is  given  in  fig.  36. 

16  Two  miles  southwest  of  this,  on  lot  29  of  the  same  range 
and  on  the  south  side  of  Big  Buffalo  creek,  was  a  similar  work 
about  800  feet  around,  having  three  gateways,  as  well  as  an 
open  space  10  rods  wide  at  the  southwest  corner.  Other  works 
were  reported  at  various  places  on  the  south  line  of  the  reserva- 
tion.— Squier,  p.  77 

17  Hundreds  of  French  axes  have  been  found  on  Cazenovia 
creek  and  on  the  adjacent  hills  a  mile  south  of  East  Aurora.  Many 


64  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

also  in  Hamburg,  Boston  and  elsewhere.  There  were  also  copper 
implements  and  several  stoned-up  springs. — Johnson.  28,  29  p. 
L.  W.  Calver  adds  items  of  interest  on  East  Aurora  sites  from  his 
explorations  in  1882.  A  large  recent  village  was  tw^o  miles  from 
the  village  of  East  Aurora.  Venetian  beads  were  so  abundant  as 
to  give  one  spot  the  name  of  Bead  Hill.  Brass  kettles  and  medals 
were  found  and  many  graves. 

18  Two  hills  in  the  north  part  of  Aurora  had  circular  works. 
Large  human  bones  were  near,  and  iron  axes  and  pottery. — Wright, 
p.  283.  North  of  East  Aurora  and  close  to  the  north  line  of  the 
town  were  abrupt  hills  and  muddy  ponds.  Tw^o  hills  had  circular 
works. — Johnson,  p.  124.   Another  account  speaks  of  burial  mounds. 

19  Turner  says  there  were  more  relics  in  Aurora  than  in  any 
similar  space  in  western  New  York.  There  were  many  in  the 
village  both  old  and  recent. — Turner.  Hoi.  p.  30,  31.  Relics  and 
some  skeletons  are  found  in  digging  most  cellars  in  East  Aurora. — 
Comley.  Mr  Calver  found  ea^rly  relics  on  Fort  Elill,  not  far  from 
the  main  street  of  East  Aurora.    Clay  pipes  occurred  elsewhere. 

20  There  were  several  clearings  near  Boston  Center.  A  fort  in 
one  inclosed  two  and  one  half  acres^  and  an  artificial  roadway  ran 
thence  to  Hamburg.  Celts  were  abundant. — Johnson,  p.  121.  The 
roadway  was  probably  natural. 

21  Eighteen  Mile  creek.  Here  are  vestiges  of  the  Indians,  old 
forts,  town  sites,  etc.  Time  and  scrutiny  are  alone  necessary  to 
bring  out  its  antiquities." — Schoolcraft.  Report,  p.  224.  The 
writer  found  some  slight  traces  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek  and 
learned  of  nothing  more  then.  Afterward  he  saw  early  flint  articles 
and  gorgets  from  Hamburg  and  Idlewood. 

22  A  mound,  probably  natural,  w^as  at  the  mouth  of  Cattaraugus 
creek.  It  was  quite  large  and  when  it  was  washed  away  in  1844 
skeletons  and  recent  rehcs  were  found.  Marcus  Sackett  of  Silver 
Creek  described  this  and  neighboring  sites. 

23  A  semicircular  work  on  the  north  bank  of  Cattaraugus  creek 
one  and  one  half  miles  from  the  lake  and  about  17  rods  long.  Area 
less  than  an  acre.    Recent. — Cheney,  p.  38,  pi.  i,  fig.  i.    His  plan 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


65 


is  given  in  fig.  31.  Mr  Sackett  found  many  iron  axes  there  but 
no  bank. 

24  A  point  with  a  bank  15  rods  long  near  H.  Silverheel's  house 
east  of  Cattaraugus  creek  with  bone  pits  and  European  relics.  Fig. 
85  is  a  sketch  of  this  by  Mr  Sackett. 

25  Mr  Sackett  reported  a  mound  a  mile  farther  south,  and  Mr 
Cheney  gives  others  or  perhaps  the  same.  His  plan  is  in  fig.  25. — 
Cheney,  p.  38,  pi.  i,  no.  2 

26  Forest  Lawn  group  in  Buffalo,  east  of  Black  Rock,  embracing 
eight  small  sites. 

27  At  some  distance  north  of  the  mouth  of  Cattaraugus  creek, 
where  a  road  approaches  the  shore,  was  an  early  village.  Another 
was  near  the  creek,  northeast  of  Irving.  Visited  by  the  writer 
with  Dr  R.  M.  Evarts  in  1899. 

28  Near  schoolhouse  no.  i  was  a  village  between  the  creek  and 
road.  Southeast  of  this  was  another  near  the  creek,  possibly 
fortified. 

29  Due  east  of  the  last  was  an  earthw^ork  on  the  edge  of  the  bluff 
and  half  a  mile  from  the  creek. 

30  Another  fort  w-as  half  a  mile  farther  east,  and  half  a  mile 
beyoncf  is  a  remaining  mound  about  five  feet  high.  It  is  in  a  level 
field.  Dr  R.  M.  Evarts,  of  Silver  Creek,  was  the  writer's  guide 
through  this  interesting  group.  Mr  Cheney  reported  a  mound  and 
excavation  in  this  vicinity,  p.  39,  pi.  i,  no.  3.  Fig.  26  is  taken  from 
this. 

31  L.  W.  Calver  found  a  large  workshop  in  the  village  of  Will- 
iamsville,  with  local  and  foreign  materials. 

Some  supplementary  remarks  may  be  made  on  Erie  county, 
founded  on  the  local  collections  of  the  Buf¥alo  society  of  natural 
sciences.  A  string  of  rice  shells,  tinged  with  copper,  came  from 
a  grave  on  Barnard  street.  Village  sites  east  and  southeast  of 
Buffalo  had  early  flint  articles.  Similar  sites  were  north  of  the  city, 
and  others  in  the  Parkside  district  and  on  Seneca  street  and  on  the 
Abbott  road,  A  site  on  the  Indian  Church  road  was  of  a  mixed 
character.  The  articles  were  mostly  of  the  Iroquois  type  but  there 
were  early  scrapers  in  the  refuse.  At  this  place  and  one  other, 
perforated  Melantho  shells  were  found. 


66  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

At  several  places  on  Smoke's  and  Cazenovia  creeks  were  early- 
sites  and  fine  serrated  scrapers  occurred  on  some  of  them.  They 
have  heretofore  been  found  only  at  Canajoharie.  Among  the  early 
articles  near  Buffalo  are  bird  amulets  and  gorgets,  with  many 
articles  of  bone  and  some  pottery.  No  native  copper  has  been 
collected  and  no  stone  tubes.  With  one  prominent  exception  the 
Iroquoian  sites  are  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  lake  and 
river.  The  flint  used  was  mostly  of  a  light  color  and  many  very 
small  and  slender  triangular  arrowheads  are  found.  This  is  a 
marked  feature  of  the  vicinity. 

Essex  county.  There  are  no  important  sites  in  this  county,  but 
many  traces  of  early  and  late  passage.  On  early  maps  the  New 
York  wilderness  is  called  the  hunting  grounds  of  the  Five  Nations, 
and  it  was  their  tradition  that  it  had  never  been  otherwise  used. 
The  locations  given  will  be  of  a  general  nature,  though  Dr  Kellogg 
has  examined  some  small  sites  along  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Split  Rock  was  the  north'ern  boundary  mark  of  the  Mo- 
hawks.  Crown  Point  has  been  considered  the  scene  of  Cham- 
plain's  battle  with  them.  They  collected  flints  for  use  nearly  two 
miles  north  of  Ticonderoga. 

1  "The  vestiges  of  Indian  occupation  in  North  Elba  and  the 
territory  around  the  interior  lakes  leave  no  doubt  that  at  some 
former  time  they  congregated  there  in  great  numbers." — Watson, 
p.  216.  A  supposed  recent  village  has  been  reported  at  North 
Elba. — Smith.    Essex,  p.  467 

2  Arrowheads,  etc.  were  abundant  at  Elizabethtown. — Smith. 
Essex,  p.  467 

.  3  Large  arrowheads,  pestles,  mortars,  chisels,  gouges,  knives, 
axes  and  pottery,  occur  in  the  north  part  of  Ticonderoga,  "  along 
the  creek,  the  flats  of  Trout  brook,  and  especially  near  the  rapids 
at  the  head  of  the  outlet."  Recent  articles  were  also  abundant. — 
Smith.    Essex,  p.  381 

Franklin  county.  Burial  mounds  occur  on  islands  in  the  St 
Lawrence,  and  camps  along  its  banks,  but  settled  towns  were  usually 
inland. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


67 


1  St  Regis  is  on  the  boundary  line  on  the  St  Lawrence;  the 
inhabitants  are  mostly  of  Mohawk.  Onondaga  and  Cayuga  lineage. 
The  band  has  been  rccentl}-  taken  in  by  the  Six  Nations  of  New 
York  to  supply  the  place  of  the  Mohawks.  A  burial  mound  on 
St  Regis  island  was  opened  in  181 8.  The  upper  deposits  of  bones 
were  well  preserved.  The  lower  ones  were  charred. — Squicr,  p.  15; 
Hough,  p.  25 

2  Near  this  on  the  east  bank  of  St  Regis  river  another  \vas  after- 
ward opened. — Hough,  p.  25 

Fulton  county,  i  It  is  said  that  there  were  two  Indian  villages 
in  Garoga  before  the  revolution,  one  near  Garo,ga  and  the  other 
near  Stink  lake.  Flint  arrowheads,  etc.  were  found. — Frothinghaiii, 
P-  567 

2  A  site  of  four  acres  on  Indian  hill  in  Ephrata  is  on  an  oblong 
and  steep  sandy  hill  east  of  Garoga  creek.  Originally  the  palisade 
holes  could  be  seen,  but  not  when  the  writer  explored  it  after  it 
had  been  long  cleared.  Mr  S.  L.  Frey  says  that  the  pits  from 
which  the  clay  for  pottery  was  taken,  are  abundant  along  the 
foot  of  the  hill  near  the  small  stream  on  the  cast  side.  It  is  the 
oldest  Mohawk  site  having  pottery  with  human  figures  upon  it, 
and  one  iong  brass  bead  has  been  found.  It  was  w^ell  described 
by  Mr  Frey  in  the  Auwrican  naturalist  in  1885,  and  was  probably 
occupied  about  1600. 

3  An  early  stockade  of  about  the  same  date  on  the  east  bank 
of  Cayadutta  creek  a  mile  north  of  Sammonsville,  was  found  in 
1892.  A  trench  across  a  ridge  about  349  feet  long,  inclosed  a 
triangle  between  two  ravines.  This  was  369  feet  long.  Relics  as 
in  the  last,  even  to  the  long  brass  bead.  Fig.  34  is  from  R.  A. 
Grider's  measurement  and  plan.  One  by  Robert  M.  Hartley, 
in  Popuhir  science  ncz^'s,  June  1896,  is  somewhat  different.  Area 
two  and  three  fourths  acres.    Unio  shells  abundant. 

4  There  are  many  arrowheads  on  Summer  house  point,  and  on 
Sacondaga  Vly  town  of  Broadalbin. — FrotJiingJmni,  p.  491 

Genesee  county.  The  state  museum  has  articles  from  this 
county  early  and  recent.  Mr  Squicr  said  there  had  been  many 
interesting  sites,  but  they  were  then  hard  to  trace  and  some  could 
not  be  defined. 


68 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


1  "  In  the  town  of  Alabama  in  the  extreme  northwest  of  the 
county,  were  once  three  of  these  works  all  of  small  size.  .  . 
This  town  adjoins  the  town  of  Shelby,  Orleans  co.  on  the  south, 
and  touches  Newstead,  Erie  co.  on  the  west.  It  will  ultimately  be 
seen  that  its  ancient  works  constitute  part  of  a  chain  extending 
from  the  lake  ridge  on  the  north,  to  Buffalo  creek  on  the  south- 
west, a  distance  of  50  miles.  Not  less  than  20  ancient  works  are 
known  to  occur  in  this  range." — Squier,  p.  64 

2  Tonawanda  is  a  modern  Seneca  village  on  that  reservation 
and  along  the  Tonawanda  creek.  It  seems  to  have  been  near  here 
that  Air  Kirkland  came  to  another  fort  on  his  way  toward  Buffalo, 
but  farther  east.  "  On  the  south  side  of  the  Tanawande  creek 
at  a  small  distance,  are  to  be  seen  the  vestiges  of  another  ancient 
fortified  town." — Yates,  p.  18 

3  "  The  old  fort  in  Oakfield,  has  a  ditch  and  bank  inclosing  10 
acres." — French,  p.  327.  It  is  half  a  mile  west  of  Caryville,  and  was 
the  best  preserved  of  these  works  which  Squier  saw.  There  are 
five  gateways,  and  a  graded  way  to  the  water.  The  general  outline 
is  oval  and  the  lodge  sites  were  plainly  seen.  Broken  pottery  was 
found,  as  in  all  such  works.  There  had  been  traces  of  palisades 
by  .  one  of  the  gates.  It  was  800  feet  long  by  600  wide. — Squier, 
p.  65,  pi.  8,  no.  2.    His  plan  is  in  fig.  38. 

4  A  mile  northeast  of  this  was  a  large  work  called  the  Bone  fort, 
because  a  mound  was  inside  "  6  feet  in  height  by  30  at  the  base, 
which  was  entirely  made  up  of  human  bones  sliglitly  covered  with 
earth."  Squier  thought  this  certainly  one  of  the  works  described 
by  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  in  1788.  Six  miles  west  of  Batavia  "  he 
rode  to  the  open  fields  and  arrived  at  a  place  called  by  the  Senecas 
Tegatainedaghquc,  which  imports  a  doubly  fortified  town  or  a  town 
with  a  fort  at  each  end.  Here  he  walked  about  half  a  mile  with 
one  of  the  Seneca  chiefs  to  view  the  vestiges  of  this  doubly  fortified 
town.  They  consisted  of  the  remains  of  two  forts,  the  first  con- 
tained four  acres  of  ground,  the  other,  distant  about  two  miles  at 
the  other  extremity  of  the  ancient  town  inclosed  about  eight  acres. 
The  ditch  around  tlie  first  was  about  five  or  six  feet  deep.  A  small 
stream  of  water  and  a  high  bank  circumscribed  nearly  one  third 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


69 


of  the  inclosed  ground.  There  were  traces  of  six  gates  or  open- 
ings, and  near  the  center  a  way  was  dug  to  the  water.  .  .  At 
some  places  at  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  Mr  Kirkland  ran  his  cane 
a  foot  or  more  in  the  soil,  from  which  circumstance  he  concludes 
that  the  ditch  was  originally  much  deeper.  Near  the  western  (?) 
fortification  which  was  situated  on  high  ground,  he  found  the  re- 
mains of  a  funeral  pile,  where  the  slain  were  buried  after  a  great 
battle,  which  will  be  spoken  of  hereafter.  The  mound  was  about 
six  feet  in  height  by  30  feet  diameter  at  the  base.  The  bones  ap- 
peared at  the  surface,  projecting  in  many  places  at  the  sides." — 
Squier,  p.  66,  67 

Mr  Squier's  quotation  from  Yates  and  Aloulton's  account  of 
Mr  Kirkland's  journal  is  not  exact,  but  the  only  material  difference 
is  a  change  from  "  northern  fortification  "  in  the  original,  to  west- 
ern."— Yates,  p.  16,  17.  It  will  be  noticed  also  that  Kirkland 
speaks  of  the  bone  mound  as  being  near  the  fort,  as  is  probable, 
instead  of  inside. 

5  Fort  hill  in  Le  Roy  is  three  miles  north  of  Le  Roy  village. 
Squier  gave  a  plan  by  L.  H.  Morgan  essentially  reproduced  in  fig. 
37.  It  is  on  a  table-land  bordered  on  three  sides  by  the  deep  ravines 
of  Fordham's  brook  and  Allen's  creek.  The  steep  banks  are  nearly 
100  feet  high.  The  peninsula  is  1300  feet  from  north  to  south  and 
quite  wide.  A  bank  and  ditch  at  the  broadest  part  were  1500  feet 
long  and  nearly  straight,  the  western  end  curving  down  the  ravine. 
Skeletons,  pottery,  beads,  pipes,  stone  axes  and  arrowheads  were 
found.  Baked  clay  beads  are  mentioned. — Squier,  p.  69,  70,  fig.  7. 
C.  Dewey  sent  a  similar  plan  to  Schoolcraft,  given  in  the  latter's  re- 
port but  having  some  arbitrary  features  and  variations.  He  made 
the  north  trench  60  rods  and  the  east  line  30  rods.  At  the  north- 
west corner  was  a  cemetery. — SeJwoIeraft.  Report,  p.  246-49.  It 
has  been  described  by  others,  but  while  there  are  plain  signs  of  par- 
tial occupation  the  supposed  work  is  now^  conceded  to  be  natural. 
The  clay  beads  "  are  long  and  coarse." 


70 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


6  On  what  is  called  the  Knowlton  farm  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  town  of  Batavia  is  a  small  natural  elevation  which  was  used 
as  a  burial  place  by  the  Indians.  It  has  been  mistaken  for  a  mound. 
Various  relics  have  been  discovered  in  plowing  over  it." — Sqiiicr, 
p.  71.  "There  are  still  traces  of  a  mound  on  Knowlton's  farm  a 
mile  from  Batavia  up  the  Tonawanda.  Bones  and  glass  beads  have 
been  plowed  out  of  it." — Schoolcraft.  Report,  p.  215.  It  was  about 
50  rods  from  the  creek,  and  eight  feet  above  the  general  level. — 
Schoolcraft.  Report,  p.  282.  This  seems  the  one  mentioned  by 
Macauley  as  north  (?)  of  Batavia,  and  originally  ICXD  feet  around 
and  10  or  12  feet  high. — Macauley,  2:113 

7  One  similar,  two  miles  south  of  the  last,  and  on  high  ground. 
It  was  of  circular  form  and  with  a  radius  of  about  one  rod." 
Both  were  discovered  about  1810  and  nothing  was  found  in  them 
but  human  bones. — Schoolcraft.    Report,  p.  282 

8  "  Two  miles  beyond  the  second  was  discovered  a  burial  ground. 
At  that  place  were  plowed  up  shell,  bone  or  quill  beads.  .  . 
Beads  of  shell,  bone  or  porcupine  quills  have  often  been  found." — 
Schoolcraft.  Report,  p.  282.  It  is  the  tradition  of  the  Onondagas 
that  their  first  wampum  was  of  bird  (|uills,  but  this  is  the  only 
statement  the  writer  has  seen  of  finding  quill  beads.  If  correct  they 
could  hardly  have  been  old. 

On  his  way  to  Buffalo  Mr  Kirkland  left  the  bights  and  came 
to  a  barren  plain  with  "  one  very  remarkable  spot  of  nearly  200 
acres,  and  passed  a  steep  hill  on  our  right  in  some  places  nearly 
50  feet  perpendicular,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a  small  lake  afford- 
ing another  instance  of  pagan  superstition.  The  old  Indians  affirm 
that  formerly  a  demon  in  the  form  of  a  dragon  resided  in  this  lake, 
and  had  frec|ucntly  been  seen  to  disgorge  balls  of  liquid  fire,  and 
that  to  appease  his  wrath  many  a  sacrifice  of  tobacco  had  been 
made  at  the  lake  by  the  fathers.  .  .  At  the  extremity  of  this 
barren  plain  we  came  again  to  the  Tanawande  river  and  forded 
it  about  two  miles  above  the  Indian  town  called  by  that  name." — 
Yates,  p.  18,  19 

9  W.  L.  Hildburgh  reports  a  small  village  site  about  a  mile 
north  of  Lc  Roy. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  7 1 

10  A  cemetery  in  a  gravel  bank  six  miles  south  and  east  of 
Bergen,  has  skeletons  in  a  sitting  posture,  with  and  without  early 
relics.    There  are  fireplaces  near.    Reported  by  C.  F.  Moseley. 

Greene  county,  i  There  are  sites  near  Leeds  about  four  miles 
northwest  of  Catskill,  on  Catskill  creek  and  on  the  plain.  For  notes 
on  some  sites  thanks  are  due  George  H.  Chadwick  of  Roches- 
ter. Others  were  furnished  to  Beer's  History  of  Greene  county,  by 
Henry  Brace. 

2  The  southwest  corner  of  Jefferson  flats,  called  Castle  "hights, 
overlooks  an  old  cemetery.  On  the  plain  below  was  a  rude  stock- 
ade. On  the  flat  between  the  Catskill  and  Kaaterskill  was  another 
village,  and  on  the  hill  nearly  600  feet  north  stood  a  fort.  An 
Algonquin  tribe  lived  on  the  plains  below  the  junction  of  the  creeks 
two  miles  from  the  river.  There  was  a  cemetery. — Hist.  Greene  co. 
p.  89,  90 

3  On  the  south  side  of  the  Catskill  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
river  and  south  of  the  town^  was  a  hamlet  at  the  foot  of  the  Hope- 
nose  with  abundant  early  relics.  A  work  shop  was  a  little  south, 
and  a  cemetery  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  hill. — Hist.  Greene  co. 
p.  106 

4  On  t>ie  north  side  of  the  creek  at  Femmen  Hook  was  a  ceme- 
tery with  early  relics.    Also  a  village  half  a  mile  west  of  Catskill. 

5  A  heap  of  Unio  coinplauatus  shells  on  the  river  bank  three 
miles  below  Catskill  also  contained  traces  of  the  aborigines.  There 
were  lodge  sites  for  a  long  distance. 

6  There  were  traces  of  a  camp  under  a  ledge  near  the  old  Cats- 
kill  mountain  house  with  pottery,  etc. 

7  "  Old  fort  "  is  placed  near  High  peak  on  a  West  Shore  railroad 
map  of  1893.  This  is  in  the  town  of  Hunter,  and  may  be  incorrect. 
On  the  same  map,  Indian  graves  are  placed  near  Sleepy  Hollow, 
two  miles  northeast  of  the  mountain  house,  but  their  existence  is 
doubted. 

8  Mr  Chadwick  locates  an  aboriginal  battle  ground  on  the  west 
side  of  Rogers  island  in  the  Hudson  just  above  Catskill. 

9  A  site  on  the  plain  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  Catskill  near 
South  Cairo. 


72 


^     NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


10  W.  H.  Conkling  also  reported  a  camp  on  Hog  island  in 
Bingate's  creek  south  of  Catskill  village. 

Hamilton  county.  There  were  no  known  villages  in  this  county, 
only  camps  on  lakes  and  rivers.  Herbert  M.  Lloyd^  of  New 
York  city,  furnished  the  following  notes  of  sites.  He  said,  "  I  have 
examined  the  shores  of  a  number  of  Adirondack  lakes  with  only 
negative  results,  excepting  in  the  cases  of  Lakes  Piseco^  Pleasant, 
Sacandaga  (usually  called  Round  lake)  and  Indian  lake." 

1  On  the  northwest  and  west  shores  of  Piseco  lake  along  Ironde- 
quoit  bay  and  near  the  outlet,  are  a  dozen  places  where  early  relics 
have  been  found.  On  a  large  rock  on  an  island  at  the  outlet,  "  are 
three  parallel  grooves  about  six  inches  long  and  half  an  inch  apart 
evidently  of  artificial  origin." 

2  At  the  angle  and  the  bay  of  the  outlet  below,  were  two  camps 
yielding  relics.  i 

3  Three  similar  camps  on  the  south  shore  of  the  lake  between 
Benton's  and  Rude's  points. 

4  Eight  camps  at  the  northeast  end. 

5  In  H.  P.  Smith's  Modern  babes  in  the  woods,  p.  276,  it  is  said  that 
"  traces  of  an  Indian  fortress  are  still  apparent  on  Pine  island,"  in 
Smith's  lake. 

6  On  an  island  and  on  the  main  land  on  the  east  side  of  Sacan- 
daga lake  there  are  two  camps. 

7  There  are  three  camps  on  the  outlet  of  the  same  lake.  One 
of  these  is  on  the  lake  shore  and  the  others  on  Lake  Pleasant. 

8  Another  camp  is  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Pleasant  at  its 
inlet.  These  were  reported  by  Herbert  M.  Lloyd.  A  camp 
on  each  side  of  this  stream,  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Pleasant. 
Another  at  the  northeast  angle  of  the  lake,  north  side  of  the  outlet. 

As  the  entire  wilderness  was  but  a  hunting  resort,  the  Iroquois 
thought  it  was  not  intended  to  be  inhabited.  On  one  early  map 
it  appears  as  "  Cough-sa-ra-ge,  the  dismal  wilderness."  On  another 
it  is  "  Cough-sa-gra-ge,  or  the  beaver  hunting  grounds  of  the  Six 
Nations."  Tliis  name  may  come  from  Koh-sa-ke,  zvinter,  in  allu- 
sion to  the  cold  climate.  On  another  map  it  appears  as  "  Tysch- 
sa-ron-dia,  where  the  Iroquois  hunted  beaver."    An  intelligent 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


73 


Onondaga  interpreted  this^  Where  they  shoot.  It  may  be  but  a 
variant  of  the  other  name. 

Herkimer  county.  Most  of  this  county  is  Hke  Hamilton. 
Though  belonging  to  the  Mohawks  it  was  west  of  their  earlier 
towns.  Macauley  says,  "  Kowogconugharie-gu-harie,  at  present 
German  Flats  and  Herkimer,  was  abandoned  some  time  before 
Nowadaga  (Indian  Castle).  It  contained  several  villages.  The 
largest  was  on  the  south  side  of  the  Mohawk  nearly  opposite  the 
village  of  Herkimer.  Its  site  is  still  discernible  from  the  number 
of  holes  which  they  dug  to  bury  their  corn  during  winter. 
It  extended  a  mile  or  more,  as  these  excavations  would  indicate." — 
Macauley,  p.  297.  This  is  very  positive,  but  there  certainly  seems 
a  mistake  of  sites,  as  there  were  no  Mohawk  villages  so  far  west, 
nor  could  the  writer  learn  of  any  Iroquois  remains  there.  The 
name  used  seems  that  of  Canajoharie. 

1  On  the  north  side  of  South  lake,  one  of  the  sources  of  Black 
river,  20  miles  east  of  Boonville,  was  a  camp  yielding  relics  with 
a  burial  place  near, 

2  Very  early  relics  have  been  found  near  Mohawk  village. 

3  Indian  Castle  in  Danube  was  so  named  from  the  upper  Indian 
castle  or  fort,  built  in  1710  on  the  flat  just  below  the  mouth  of 
Nowadaga  creek.  There  was  a  mission  church  there  in  1768; 
it  was  the  home  of  Joseph  Brant  and  King  Hendrick. 

Jefferson  county,  i  A  traditional  fort  on  French  creek  near 
Clayton,  taken  by  the  Oneidas. 

2  A  small  burial  mound  opened  in  making  the  railroad  to  Cape 
Vincent. 

3  Many  graves  and  camp  sites  were  at  the  portage  at  Point 
Peninsula. 

4  Many  graves  were  also  on  the  Hoover  farm  at  the  head  of 
Chaumont  bay. 

5  A  fort  and  cemetery  at  Depauville.  These  three  were  reported 
by  Mr  Twining. 

6  Circular  mounds,  with  depressed  centers  about  30  feet  across, 
are  frequent  on  both  sides  of  Perch  lake  and  on  Linnell's 
island. — Hough,   p.    10.     They   are   circular   raised   lodge  sites 


74  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

with  burned  stones  and  camp  refuse  around  the  edge.  D.  S. 
Marvin  reported  about  200,  sometimes  almost  touching.  There 
have  been  no  graves  found  and  but  Httle  pottery. 

7  A  work  of  the  usual  type  in  Hounsfield  on  the  shore  of  Black 
River  bay,  between  Muskallunge  creek  and  Storr's  harbor. — Hough, 
p.  II.    It  was  two  and  one  half  miles  from  Sacket  Harbor. 

8  A  work  in  Hounsfield  two  miles  from  Brow^isville. — Hough, 
P-  13 

9  An  ossuary  near  Brownsville  on  Black  river,  12  feet  square 
and  4  deep. — Squier,  p.  29.  Hough  mentioned  this  and  said  they 
were  frequent. 

10  A  natiiral  mound  in  East  Hounsfield  on  Elmer  Everett's  farm, 
used  for  burial.    It  is  two  miles  from  Brownsville. 

11  A  bone  pit  in  Rutland  three  miles  east  of  Watertown  was  on 
a  hillside  and  covered  with  large  stones.  Below  these  was  a  pit, 
6  feet  square  by  4  deep  filled  with  human  bones. — Squier,  p.  29 

12  Half  a  mile  west  of  Black  River  village  and  north  of  the 
river  was  a  fort  nearly  square  but  with  rounded  angles.  There 
was  one  gate  and  the  area  w^as  one  and  one  quarter  acres.  This 
was  in  Le  Ray.  Skeletons  were  found  and  the  usual  relics. — 
Squier,  p.  25,  pi.  3,  no.  3.  His  plan  is  given  in  fig.  45.  One  figured 
and  described  by  Mr  Hough  is  said  to  be  the  same  and  is  on  Aaron 
Poor's  land.  The  diameter  is  14  rods.  There  are  fireplaces  within 
and  W'ithout  and  a  cemetery. — Regents,  1851,  p.  loi,  fig.  i.  His 
plan  in  fig.  46  differs  much  from  Mr  Scjuier's. 

13  Hough  describes  one  on  Matthew  Parkison's  land,  a  mile 
north  of  this,  south  of  West  creek.  There  are  fireplaces  within 
and  without  the  walls. — Regents,  185 1,  p.  loi,  fig.  2.  His  plan  is 
given  in  fig.  52. 

14  In  the  same  town  of  Le  Ray  and  four  miles  northwest  of  no. 
12,  was  a  lozenge-shaped  work,  the  most  regular  Mr  Squier  had 
seen  in  New  York.  There  were  two  gates,  and  a  considerable 
interval  along  a  steep  bank.  Skeletons  w^cre  found,  and  the  usual 
relics. — Squier,  p.  26,  pi.  4,  no.  i.    His  plan  appears  in  fig.  53. 

15  A  larger  and  similar  work  was  three  miles  west  of  the  last 
and  near  Sanfords  Corners.    There  were  graves  and  relics. — 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


75 


Squicr,  p.  2y,  pi.  4,  no.  2.  This  work  appears  in  fig-.  54.  It  is  now 
a  garden. 

16  Another  work  was  on  the  edge  of  the  pine  plains  a  mile  east 
of  the  road  from  Sanfords  Corners  to  Black  river. 

17  Several  other  obliterated  sites  were  known  in  Le  Ray.  One 
was  near  Felts  ]\Iills. — Squicr,  p.  27.  There  was  a  cemetery  a  mile 
south. 

18  J.  S.  Twining  reported  a  village  site  on  a  hill  in  Carthage. 

19  An  open  village  was  nearly  a  mile  north  of  Burr's  Mills,  with 
stone  hearths. — Squicr,  p.  23.  This  was  on  the  Woodruff  farm. 
Another  of  eight  circular  lodg"es  was  on  the  GifYord  place  two  miles 
northwest  of  Burr's  Mills. 

20  A  village  of  15  circular  lodg'es  on  O.  Butterfield's  place  a 
mile  west  of  East  Watertown  and  on  the  north  side  of  Rutland 
hollow.  A^illage  sites  in  this  vicinity  were  reported  by  Henry 
Woodworth.  There  was  a  village  on  land  of  Mrs  Woodworth  and 
Mr  Stewart  a  mile  southwest  of  East  Watertown.  Stone  and  clay 
pipes  and  beads. 

21.  A  cemetery  and  an  irregular  work  are  on  the  terrace  two  and 
one  half  miles  southeast  of  Watertown. — Squicr,  p.  22,  pi.  2,  no.  2. 
His  plan  ^appears  in  fig.  43.  Hough  reported  two  w^orks  on  lot  29 
half  a  mile  farther  and  another  quite  near.  The  one  on  Asa  Good- 
nough's  land  had  three  gates.  A  few  rods  off  was  a  smaller  cir- 
cular work. — Rcgoits,  1851,  p.  104,  fig.  7.    This  is  given  in  fig.  44. 

22  A  curving  bank  across  a  ridge  on  lot  31  half  a  mile  east  of 
Burr's  Mills  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  Rutland  line. — Hough, 
p.  II.  It  was  on  the  Lampson  farm. — Regents,  1851,  p.  104,  fig.  6. 
The  plan  appears  in  fig.  50. 

23  A  village  of  15  circular  lodges  half  a  mile  north  of  East  Water- 
town.  A  similar  village  on  the  Howland  place  a  mile  east  of  the 
same  village.  Also  clay  pits  and  fireplaces  on  the  Durham  place 
one  and  one  quarter  miles  east.  Another  village  on  the  Fulton 
place  one  and  one  half  miles  east,  and  another  on  the  Normander 
farm  a  mile  east  of  East  Watertown.    This  had  30  lodges. 

24  A  slight  work  on  the  Allen  place  south  side  of  Rutland  hol- 
low with  many  skeletons  suggesting  recent  occupation. — Squicr,  p. 


76  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

24,  pi.  3,  no.  2.  This  is  given  in  fig.  39.  This  was  on  the  old 
Tamblin  farm. — Hough,  p.  13.  The  site  has  been  referred  to  several 
owners. — Regents,  185 1,  p.  102,  fig.  3.  Hough's  plan  appears  in 
fig-  47. 

25  There  was  a  work  near  Tylerville,  (South  Rutland  postoflfice) 
in  Rutland. — Hough,  p.  13 

26  A  work  on  a  bluff  half  a  mile  west  of  Burr's  Mills  has  bone 
and  stone  beads,  with  the  usual  relics.  There  is  a  bank  across  the 
bluflf. — Squier,  p.  22,  pi.  3,  no.  i.    This  is  shown  in  fig.  42. 

27  A  partly  circular  work  on  Dry  hill,  town  of  Watertown,  is 
five  miles  southeast  of  that  city  and  two  miles  north  of  a  work  near 
Appling.  The  area  is  eight  acres.  It  was  of  long  occupation  and 
relics  were  abundant.  A  cemetery  lay  a  little  north. — Squier,  p.  20, 
pi.  2,  no.  I.  His  plan  is  given  in  fig.  49.  Really  south  of  Water- 
town. 

28  A  work  on  a  high  terrace  in  Adams  has  seven  gates  and 
many  caches.  It  is  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  and  there 
were  graves  just  outside  the  walls. — Squier,  p.  17,  pi.  i.  This  plan 
appears  in  fig.  40.  Near  Appling  on  D.  Talcott's  farm. — Hough, 
p.  II 

29  A  large  work  is  one  and  one  half  miles  southeast  of  this  on 
a  hill,  one  side  of  which  is  steep.  A  semicircular  bank  protected 
the  sloping  side. 

30  At  the  head  of  Henderson  bay  is  a  curved  stone  bank  just 
above  the  water  called  Indian  wharf.  A  trail  ended  there. — French, 
p.  358 

31  A  work  on  Heath's  farm,  lot  25  near  the  west  line  of  Rodman 
contained  three  acres.  It  was  on  the  north  bank  of  North  Sandy 
creek  above  the  forks. — Hough,  p.  12 

32  A  work  two  miles  north  of  Adams. — Hough,  p.  12 

33  A  semicircular  work  was  over  half  a  mile  northwest  of  Adams 
village  on  W.  Benton's  land  and  was  500  feet  wide.  The  open 
part  was  toward  marshy  land  and  there  were  two  or  three  gate- 
ways.— Squier,  p.  28,  29.  This  seems  one  mentioned  by  Rev.  John 
Taylor  in  1802. 

34  Hough  reported  several  ossuaries  in  Ellisburg,  and  Mr  Squier 
said  that  several  old  works  once  existed  there.    He  figured  one, 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


77 


three  miles  northwest  of  Pierrepont  Manor  with  an  area  of  one 
and  one  half  acres.  It  was  mainly  an  ellipse  except  where  an 
opening  was  defended  by  a  stream.  There  were  two  gates. — Sqtiier, 
p.  27,  pi.  4,  no.  3.  This  plan  is  given  in  fig,  41.  There  was  also 
a  similar  but  larger  work  three  quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  the  last, 
and  two  and  one  half  miles  northwest  of  Pierrepont  Manor.  Caches 
and  skeletons  were  found. — Squicr,  p.  28,  pi.  4,  no.  4.  The  plan 
appears  in  fig.  51. 

35  About  a  mile  south  of  this  group  was  another  work  on  Mr 
Mendall's  land. — Sqiiicr,  p.  28.  Pie  mentions  another  at  Clark's 
settlement. 

36  There  was  an  open  village  near  Pierrepont  Manor  with  pot- 
tery and  many  skeletons  having  horizontal  burial. 

37  There  was  a  fort  with  several  gates  near  Belleville  on 
P.  Durfy's  farm.  This  is  in  Ellisburg,  on  North  Sandy  creek. 
One  side  is  naturally  defended.- — Hough,  p.  12 

38  There  is  a  bone-pit  in  Ellisburg  nearly  opposite  the  old  fort 
on  South  Sandy  creek  and  near  J.  W.  Ellis's  house. — Hough,  p.  14 

39  On  the  south  bank  of  Sandy  creek  three  miles  from  the  lake 
was  a  fort  with  one  side  naturally  defended.  There  are  several 
small  sitefe  in  the  town  and  undescribed  open  villages. — Hough,  p.  13 

40  An  irregular  crescent-shaped  work  of  two  acres  was  in  the 
cemetery  at  Ellisburg  four  miles  from  the  mouth  of  South  Sandy 
creek. 

41  There  was  a  stockade  on  Snowshoe  island  outside  of  Sacket 
Harbor. — Squicr,  p.  29 

42  A  work  five  miles  from  Watertown  on  the  road  to  Evans 
Mills  was  nearly  circular  and  had  several  gates.  It  was  at  Sanfords 
Corners,  on  a  branch  of  West  creek. — Regents,  1851,  p.  103 

43  A  work  on  lot  2  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Rodman  is  near 
J.  Freeman's.  There  is  a  double  bank  inclosing  a  crescent- 
shaped  area.  It  is  about  six  miles  from  Watertown  on  a  stream 
at  the  source  of  Stony  crcQk.— Regents,  1851,  p.  103,  fig.  8.  The 
plan  is  given  in  fig.  48. 

44  A  work  described  by  Rev.  John  Taylor  was  in  the  forks  of 
the  Sandy  creeks  and  near  the  lake. 


78  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Some  additional  sites  were  furnished  by  Dr  R.  W.  Amidon  of 
New  York  and  Dr  A.  A.  Getman  of  Chaumont. 

45  An  Iroquoian  prehistoric  village  at  the  mouth  of  Perch  river 
on  the  w^est  side  occupies  several  acres  but  is  scattered.  The 
ashes  were  quite  deep  in  spots.  Few  stone  articles  were- found, 
but  many  of  bone  and  much  pottery.  Near  the  w^ater  were  fishing 
camps  of  a  difYerent  character. 

46  A  similar  village  is  on  the  west  branch  of  French  creek,  about 
80  rods  south  of  St  Lawrence  village.  Pottery  is  abundant  and  the 
ashes  deep.    Few  stone  articles. 

47  On  two  points  west  of  Chaumont  and  south  of  Chaumont 
river  were  fishing  camps  of  mixed  character.  Pottery  with  conven- 
tional faces  is  abundant.  One  small  fragment  has  a  face  like  those 
of  Onondaga  and  is  an  important  discovery. 

48  Camps  occur  on  Long  point  on  the  north  side  of  Point  Penin- 
sula.   The  pottery  is  old  and  crude. 

49  There  is  a  large  site-  at  tlie  w^est  end  of  Pillar  Point,  with 
ashes  and  pottery. 

50  Flint  knives  and  arrowheads  are  found  east  of  the  stream 
and  half  way  between  Chaumont  and  Depauville. 

51  Arrowheads  and  broken  pottery  have  been  abundant  on  the 
Indian  river  in  the  village  of  Theresa.  In  1898  a  fine  and  perfect 
clay  vessel  was  found.    It  had  no  peculiar  features. 

52  Fishing  camps  near  the  mouth  of  Perch  river. 

53  Large  village  on  west  branch  of  French  creek,  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  south  of  St  Lawrence  village.  Pottery  and  bone  imple- 
ments, with  few  stone  articles.  Across  a  small  stream  are  refuse 
heaps,  in  which  a  small  double-pointed  bone  harpoon  was  found 
by  Dr  R.  W.  Amidon.  On  the  other  side  Dr  A.  A.  Getman  found 
a  barbed  bone  fish-hook  without  a  knob.  Nearly  a  mile  northeast 
was  a  camp  site  on  which  arrowheads  and  pottery .  were  formerly 
found.  This  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  A  similar  site  was 
less  than  a  mile  beyond,  but  south  of  the  road. 

54  Hamlet  on  the  end  of  Point  Salubrious,  near  Chaumont.  Pot- 
tery and  pipes. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


79 


55  Gamp  on  Long  point.  The  pottery  is  mostly  old  and  crude, 
but  the  writer  found  here  some  so  indented  within  as  to  produce 
a  boss  without. 

56  Fishing  camps  on  south  shore  and  southwest  of  head  of 
"  Long  carrying  place."    Old  and  crude  pottery. 

57  Hamlets  near  Three  Mile  point. 

58  Flint  knives  and  arrowheads  between  Chaumont  and  Depau- 
ville,  east  of  the  creek. 

No  county  is  more  perplexing  than  tliis  in  locating  sites  from 
descriptions,  partly  from  their  number  and  partly  from  the  number 
of  authorities  and  their  varying  accounts.  It  will  be  seen  that 
Messrs  Squier  and  Hough  did  not  always  agree  in  their  plans  as 
has  been  the  case  elsewhere  with  others.  That  there  are  omissions 
is  certain,  that  some  errors  will  be  found  is  probable,  as  there  was 
time  for  but  slight  personal  examination. 

It  is  an  interesting  field  and  mainly  prehistoric.  While  many 
things  are  like  those  of  Onondaga,  ossuaries  show  Huron  ideas 
not  prevalent  among  the  New  York  Iroquois,  who  traditionally 
came  out  of  the  ground  here.  Mounds  are  more  frequent,  and  the 
circular  lodge  sites  of  Perch  lake  are  of  a  type  unusual  in  New 
York.  I'lieir  true  relations  are  partly  known  but  will  not  be  con- 
sidered now.  Local  collections  reveal  peculiar  articles  while  others 
are  absent,  and  we  gain  some  definite  historic  ideas  from  those 
called  prehistoric.  With  slight  exceptions  the  interior  sites  and  all 
the  forts  are  Iroquoian  in  character,  while  most  of  those  near  the 
St  Lawrence  and  Lake  Ontario  are  of  earlier  nations. 

Kings  county.  Few  of  the  antiquities  of  this  county  have  been 
reported  except  in  a  very  general  way,  nor  were  they  ever  conspicu- 
ous. The  Canarsies  occupied  this  county  and  part  of  Jamaica.  In 
Notes  geographical  and  historical  relating  to  the  tozvn  of  Brooklyn,  p. 
27,  (a  reprint  of  the  edition  of  1824)  it  is  said,  "  Heads  of  Indian 
arrows,  beds  of  oyster  and  clam  shells,  denoting  the  former  re- 
sidence of  the  aborigines,  are  frequently  found  in  different  parts 
of  this  town." 

I  A  few  feet  below  the  surface  at  the  Narrows  about  1837,  "  more 
than  a  wagon  load  of  Indian  stone  arrowheads  were  found  lying 


8o 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


together.  .  .  They  were  of  all  sizes  from  one  to  six  inches 
long",  some  perfect,  others  partly  finished.  There  were  also  a 
number  of  blocks  of  the  same  kind  of  stone  found  in  the  rough 
state." — Ftirman,  p.  31 

2  A  barren  sand  hill  in  Brooklyn  in  1826  was  covered  with 
vitrified  and  decomposed  stones.  From  one  and  one  half  to  four 
feet  below  the  surface  was  a  layer  of  ashes  and  cinders  with  broken 
clay  pipes,  coarse  pottery  and  arrowheads. — Furman,  p.  98 

3  There  are  immense  shell  heaps  at  Canarsie  or  Flatlands,  and 
on  Bergen  island. — Thompson^  p.  66 

4  An  old  cemetery  was  found  in  South  Brooklyn  in  1897,  on 
Avenue  U,  and  near  Ryder's  pond  and  Sheepshead  bay.  Deep 
beds  of  oyster  shells  had  the  outer  side  of  the  shells  uppermost. 
Pottery  was  found  and  over  a  dozen  skeletons.  There  were  a  few 
other  shells  and  fragments  of  bone. — Amer.  arch.  1898 

Lewis  county.  Few  sites  have,  been  reported  here  but  the  state 
museum  has  a  few  '  relics  from  Martinsburg.  J.  S.  Twining 
furnishes  the  following  notes. 

1  On  the  Kinsman  farm,  Martinsburg,  skeletons  and  pipes,  one 
of  these  having  orifices  for  stems. 

2  On  the  east  bank  of  Black  river  across  from  Deer  River  sta- 
tion are  many  very  old  hut  rings  with  stone  gouges,  arrowheads 
and  spears. 

3  Another  site  at  Gates's  nlill  yard  is  two  miles  above. 
Livingston  county.    This  was  the  later  territory  of  the  Senecas 

and  they  may  have  partially  occupied  it  at  an  earlier  day.  Most 
of  the  sites  however  are  recent. 

1  Dynneganooh  a  recent  village  on  the  northwest  margin  of  the 
great  spring  in  Caledonia.  Besides  hatchets  and  copper  kettles, 
curious  pottery  has  been  found  there. — Doty,  p.  82-83.  This  was 
one  of  the  magic  springs  of  the  Senecas. 

2  Three  miles  south  of  the  Wheatland  forts  on  the  Genesee  and 
probably  in  Caledonia,  was  a  mound  once  8  feet  high  and  filled  with 
unarrangcd  human  bones. — Squicr,  p.  60 

3  In  surveying  the  Kanawagcas  reservation  in  1798  Judge  Porter 
found  an  old  fort  on  the  open  flats  which  included  nearly  two  acres. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  8 1 

He  said^  "  It  corresponded  in  situation  and  appearance  with  many 
Others  which  I  have  seen  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  which  seem 
to  bear  a  high  antiquity." — Sqtdcr,  p.  6i.  On  the  west  side  of 
Genesee  river,  nearly  opposite  Avon  springs,  was  Canawaugus  the 
birthplace  of  Cornplanter.  Iron  axes,  flint  arrowheads  and  stone 
hammers  are  found  there. — Doty,  p.  75.  There  was  a  work  in  Avon 
on  the  flats  of  the  Genesee,  and  not  far  from  Avon  springs,  described 
by  W.  H.  C.  Hosmer. — Squier,  p.  61.  An  inclosure  on  the  flats  30 
rods  north  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Col.  Jones. — Doty,  p.  75 

4  A  similar  work  existed  in  the  northeast  part  of  Avon  about  two 
and  one  half  miles  from  the  village  of  Lima. — Squier,  p.  61.  This 
would  be  northwest  of  Lima  and  close  to  the  town  line. 

5  W.  L.  Hildburgh  reports  a  cemetery  two  and  one  half  milcc 
north  of  Lima  with  European  articles.  This  or  one  nearer  Honeoye 
Falls  seems  the  Keinthe  of  Greenhalgh  or  the  Gandachiragou  of  the 
Jesuits. 

6  Sgahisgaaah,  a  recent  Seneca  village,  was  at  Lima.  European 
articles  are  found.  "  There  were  traces  of  an  old  fortification  on  the 
ridge  where  the  Indian  village  had  been  located,  the  west  end  of  the 
ditch  crossing  the  present  highway  on  the  ridge,  a  short  distance 
west  of  the  center  of  the  modern  village,  and  remained  visible  for 
several  years  after  1798." — Doty,  p.  100-2.  A  separate  site,  but 
perhaps  belonging  to  this,  is  a  cemetery  a  mile  north  of  Lima  vil- 
lage where  hatchets  and  knives  occur  with  skeletons.  Some  skele- 
tons were  found  here  in  1822,  with  earthen  pots  in  their  laps  filled 
with  squirrel  bones  and  corn.  Reported  by  Mr  Reynolds  who  took 
his  account  from  Doty.  Of  the  first  site,  the  latter  says  that  the 
pipes  had  human  faces,  deer  and  other  heads.  This  is  supposed  by 
some  to  be  Greenhalgh's  Keinthe  of  1677.  Squier  says  that  the 
cemetery  was  large  and  partly  covered  by  the  present  village. 
Raymond  Dann  describes  a  village  on  the  electric  road,  half  way 
between  Honeoye  Falls  and  Lima.  The  cemetery  was  on  a  knoll 
rising  from  a  swamp.  The  relics  are  modern,  but  include  an  un- 
usual number  of  discoidal  beads.  A  place  west  of  this  is  called  Fort 
Hill,  and  has  modern  relics  in  small  numbers. 

7  There  was  a  stockade  in  Livonia  two  miles  northeast  of  Livonia 
village,  perhaps  of  later  date  than  that  on  Boughton  hill.    It  was 


82  NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

on  a  broad  swell  of  land  not  commanded  by  adjacent  bights,  and  a 
fine  spring  had  a  basin  of  loose  stones.  There  were  large  cemeteries 
on  the  north  and  west  with  recent  articles.  The  area  was  lo  acres 
and  length  1050  feet. — Sqnicr,  p.  91-92,  pi.  14,  no.  2.  The  plan  is 
given  in  fig.'  55.  Doty  seems  to  describe  this  as  in  Avon  two  miles 
north  of  IJvonia  center  and  on  the  farm  of  John  Caton  and  John 
Clary,  but  that  town  is  too  far  west  for  his  location  if  this  was  in- 
tended. Beads,  stone  axes  and  hammers  are  yet  found.  He  calls 
this  the  early  Gannounata  (Dyudoosot),  which  is  commonly  as- 
signed to  Ontario  county. — Doty,  p.  72 

8  Three  miles  eastward  was  a  large  work  now  obliterated  which 
is  said  to  h^ve  been  octangular. — Sqnicr,  p.  93 

9  There  was  a  work  of  at  least  16  acres  on  a  commanding  hill  in 
Livonia,  three  miles  northeast  of  Livonia  village  on  Mr  Haddock's 
farm.  It  was  a  long  oval  earthwork  with  four  gates,  one  opening 
toward  a  fine  spring,  and  was  one  and  one  half  miles  northward  of 
no.  8. — Squier,  p.  62,  pi.  8,  no.  i.    The  plan  is  given  in  fig.  58. 

On  James  Haydock's  farm,  and  the  timber  on  it  was  quite  small 
in  1806. — Doty,  p.  71 

10  On  Fort  hill,  30  rods  northeast  of  Bosley's  mills  and  by  the 
Avon  road  near  the  outlet  of  Conesus  lake,  was  a  line  of  banks. 
The  spot  was  covered  with  shrubs  at  the  settlement  by  the  whites 
and  European  articles  occur. — Doty,  p.  73.  Apparently  the  site  of 
1779  but  occupied  earlier. 

11  Conesus  or  Gahnyuhsas  was  a  small  Seneca  village  half  a  mile 
south  of  the  head  of  Conesus  lake.  Pouchot  called  it  Onistade. — 
Doty,  p.  96 

12  "It  is  said  that  a  mound  containing  a  large  number  of  human 
bones  occurs  near  the  head  of  Hemlock  lake  in  the  township  of 
Springwater.  At  various  places  in  the  county  large  cemeteries  are 
found,  but  most,  if  not  all  of  them,  may  with  safety  be  referred  to 
the  Senecas.  Indeed  many  articles  of  European  origin  accompany 
the  skeletons." — Squier,  p.  63.  Southeast  of  the  lake  two  and  one 
half  miles. — Doty,  p.  73 

13  Byuhahgaih,  an  Oneida  village  which  adhered  to  the  English 
in  the  revolution,  was  on  the  cast  bank  of  the  Genesee  a  mile  below 
North's  mills. — Doty,  p.  97-98 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


83 


14  On  Austin  Wadsworth's  Big  Tree  farm  were  two  early  burial 
mounds  of  interest.  They  are  described  in  the  Report  of  the  U.  S. 
bureau  of  ethnology,  1890-91,  p.  515. 

15  Ohagi  was  a  Tuscarora  vihage  of  1779,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Genesee  river  two  or  three  miles  north  of  Cuylerville. — Morgati,  p. 
434.  It  was  a  mile  north  of  Big  Tree  town  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river. — Doty,  p.  84.  A  note  to  Sullivan's  Campaign  says,  "  Several 
writers  claim  that  Canawaugus  on  the  west  side  and  Ohadi  and  Big 
Tree  on  the  east  side  of  Genesee  river  were  destroyed  in  this  cam- 
paign. .  .  No  villages  are  mentioned  in  any  account  as  exist- 
ing on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  nor  is  mention  made  of  any  portion 
of  the  army  being  on  that  side. — Sullivan,  p.  133 

16  Gaundowaneh  or  Big  Tree  was  a  Seneca  village  on  a  hill  one 
mile  north  of  Cuylerville. — Morgan,  p.  434.  It  was  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river  on  the  farm  of  E.  P.  Slocum  in  Leicester,  and  was  the 
last  town  occupied  by  the  Senecas. — Doty^  p.  85-86 

17  Deonundagaa  or  Little  Beard's  town  was  a  Seneca  village  west 
of  the  Genesee  at  Geneseo.  Ga-nah-da-on-twa  was  another  Seneca 
village  near  this. — Morgan,  p.  434.  Genesee  Castle  was  the  great 
village  of  the  Senecas,  between  Cuylerville  and  the  Genesee  in  the 
town  of  Leicester.  It  is  Chenandoanes  on  Evans's  map  of  1776,  was 
mentioned  as  Chenandanah  in  1754  and  is  often  called  Little  Beard's 
town.  Sullivan  said  that  it  had  128  houses,  mostly  large  and  ele- 
gant.— Sullivan,  p.  133.  Dyu-non-dah-ga-seh,  Steep  Hill  creek,  is 
best  known  as  Beardstown  and  was  in  the  east  part  of  Cuylerville. 
There  was  a  cemetery  a  mile  south  on  Hiram  Jones's  farm.  Relics 
are  still  found  on  the  old  village  site. — Doty,  p.  87-88.  After 
De  Nonville's  invasion  the  Senecas  had  a  large  town  at  the  mouth  of 
Canaseraga  creek.  It  was  moved  near  Cuylerville  and  100  years 
ago  was  called  Little  Beard's  town  and  Genesee  Castle. — Harris,  p. 
33 

18  Geneseo,  or  Chenussio,  is  a  recent  village  in  a  way,  and  Gen. 
J.  S.  Clark  makes  it  the  successor  of  the  town  above  mentioned  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Canaseraga. — Sullivan,  p.  132.  Gath-she-gweh-oh, 
a  Seneca  village  near  Williamsburg  at  the  mouth  of  Canaseraga 
creek. — Doty,  p.  99.     At  the  confluence  of  the  Canaseraga  and 


84 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Genesee  and  east  of  the  latter.  In  old  maps  and  journals  it  appears 
as  Chenussio  and  Zonnesschio,  and  was  the  home  of  the  trouble- 
some chief  Gaustarax. — Doty,  p.  132 

19  F.  H.  Crofoot,  of  Sonyea,  says  the  old  Seneca  council-house 
was  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  half  a  mile  south  of  Geneseo.  A 
mile  farther  was  a  large  village  at  a  spring.  This  had  early  relics. 
Half  a  mile  farther,  at  Fall  brook,  is  a  recent  site  of  30  acres. 

20  On  the  farm  of  Mr  Brimmer  west  of  the  Geneseo  and  Mount 
Morris  road  and  20  rods  south  of  the  road  to  Jones's  bridge  is  an 
inclosure  of  two  acres. — Doty,  p.  77.  Two  parallel  banks  across  a 
ridge  between  two  ravines  two  and  one  half  miles  south  of  Geneseo 
and  60  or  70  rods  west  of  the  Mount  Morris  road  leading  to  Jones's 
bridge  across  the  Genesee. — Reynolds,  p.  515.  Apparently  the  same. 
There  are  no  relics.  The  site  at  the  mouth  of  Canaseraga  creek 
F.  H.  Crofoot  describes  as  the  largest  but  one  near  the  Genesee 
river.  It  has  a  frontage  of  half  a  mile  on  the  creek  and  river,  and 
extends  back  50  rods.  The  relics  are  of  a  recent  nature.  A  mile 
south  of  this  and  on  the  east  bank  of  the  creek  is  a  similar  site  of 
about  five  acres.  Still  another  is  a  mile  farther  south,  on  the  same 
side  with  an  area  of  six  to  eight  acres. 

21  Ganundasa  was  a  village  at  Moscow  in  Leicester. — Morgan, 
p.  435.  A  site  of  10  acres,  one  and  one  half  miles  south  of  Fall 
brook,  has  both  early  and  recent  relics^  and  some  pieces  of  steatite 
vessels. 

22  Squakie  Hill  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  opposite  Mount 
Morris,  and  there  was  a  council  house  there.  Also  a  cemetery. — 
Doty,  p.  89.  "  The  White  Woman's  spring  "  was  unearthed  there 
Aug.  18,  1898.  The  stone  which  covered  it  had  many  figures  on  it. 
This  is  near  White's  canning  factory. 

23  At  Mount  Morris  an  old  mound  was  opened  in  1835,  which 
contained  skeletons  and  early  stone  and  copper  articles.  Some  were 
of  polished  slate. — Barber,  p.  248.  Doty  however  says  it  was  re- 
moved in  1820  and  was  on  the  site  of  Gen.  Mills's  residence.  It  was 
ICQ  feet  in  diameter  and  8  or  10  feet  high.  Skeletons,  arrowheads, 
brass  kettles  and  knives  were  found.  The  place  was  not  called 
Sonojowauga  after  the  chief  but  from  a  large  brass  kettle  used  in 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


85 


distilling. — Doty,  p.  95.  It  was  the  only  recent  Seneca  town  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  GtnQS^Q.— Morgan,  p.  437.  Judge  Porter  knew  of 
two  earthworks  on  Smith  and  Jones's  flats,"  near  Mount  Morris.— 
Squicr,  p.  61.  Works  on  flats  are  elsewhere  rare.  A  slide  east  of 
the  Genesee  exposed  many  human  bones  when  J\Iary  Jemison  first 
came  to  the  valley. 

24  "  Gathsegwarohare  was  seven  miles  directly  west  of  Kanagh- 
saws  on  the  east  side  of  Canaseraga  creek  about  two  miles  above  its 
confluence  with  the  Genesee."  It  is  at  present  occupied  by  the 
"  Hermitage  "  and  was  the  home  of  the  Squakie  Indians  in  1779. — 
Sullivan,  p.  132.  On  the  east  bank  of  Canaseraga  creek,  2  miles 
from  its  exit  from  Groveland,  Mr  Crofoot  reports  camps  on  both 
sides  of  a  ravine.    There  are  early  relics  but  no  pottery. 

25  Ganasegago  was  at  Dansville. — Morgan,  p.  435.  Kanuskago 
was  the  door  of  the  Six  Nations,  (1756)  whence  none  before  had 
come  to  Fort  Johnson. — Doc.  hist.  N.  Y.  7  : 57.  Many  metallic  relics 
were  found  there. — Doty,  p.  93.  "  Before  the  revolution,  according 
to  tradition,  a  battle  took  place  on  a  hill  a  few  miles  distant,  between 
the  Canisteo  Indians  and  those  living  in  this  vicinity,  during  which 
a  chief  of  the  latter  was  killed.  When  the  whites  first  settled  here 
the  spot  where  he  fell  was  marked  by  a  large  hole  dug  in  the  earth 
in  the  shape  of  a  man  with  arms  extended.  An  Indian  trail  led  by 
the  place  and  the  Indians  on  passing  were  always  accustomed  to 
clear  away  the  dry  leaves  which  had  blown  in.  This  chief  was 
buried  in  an  old  Indian  burying  ground,  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Lutheran  church  which  was  thickly  covered  with  graves 
to  the  extent  of  two  or  three  acres.  His  monument  consisted  of  a 
large  pile  of  small  stones,  gathered  from  time  to  time  by  the  natives 
from  a  hill  a  mile  distant,  who,  on  passing,  were  accustomed  to  take 
one  in  their  hand  and  add  to  the  heap." — Barber,  p.  250-51.  Two 
rows  of  parallel  holes,  possibly  for  palisades^  were  two  miles  north 
of  Dansville. — Doty,  p.  79.  Half  a  mile  west  of  Dansville,  south  of 
the  Ossian  road,  was  a  fort  where  clay  vessels  and  pipes,  ashes, 
skeletons  and  articles  of  stone  and  horn  have  been  found. — Doty, 
p.  75.  It  was  west  of  Canaseraga  creek,  and  fig.  88  shows  Mr  Doty's 
plan. 


86 


JfEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


26  A  circular  mound  of  black  earth  and  cinders  once  stood  a  few 
rods  cast  of  the  Havens's  tavern,  on  the  road  from  Dansville  to 
Grovcland.  The  earth  was  scraped  into  a  deep  pit  near  by. — Doty, 
p.  76 

27  Another  similar  but  smaller  mound  was  on  the  road  between 
Dansville  and  Scottsburg  in  Sparta. — Doty,  p.  77 

28  The  remainder  are  reported  by  Mr  Crofoot,  three  being  on  the 
east  side  of  Canaseraga  creek.  One  of  seven  acres  is  five  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  town  line  of  Groveland,  measured  along  the 
creek,  and  seems  very  old.  Fragments  of  worked  steatite  are  found 
here. 

29  Close  to -the  creek  and  two  and  one  half  miles  south  of  the 
last  is  a  site  of  half  an  acre,  and  2  miles  farther  is  another  of  four 
acres. 

30  A  mile  south  of  the  Groveland  station  of  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western  railroad  is  a  site  of  15  acres,  on  both  sides  of  a 
ravine,  with  early  implements,  including  steatite. 

31  The  remaining  sites  are  on  the  Craig  Colony  lands,  near  Son- 
year  station:  they  were  reported  by  Mr  Crofoot.  Here  he  places 
Sonoyawa,  on  the  west  side  of  Kishaqua  creek,  and  near  the  Erie 
railroad  station.  The  relics  are  early  and  the  ashes  deep.  The 
Senecas  camped  there  recently,  which  may  account  for  some  modern 
articles.  The  site  contains  more  than  20  acres.  The  blufif  above 
the  new  laundry  building  was  occupied  for  summer  camps,  and 
another  camp  was  at  the  new  industrial  building.  Flint  implements 
occurred  from  the  old  sawmill  to  the  railroad  station. 

Madison  county.  The  early  homes  of  the  Oneidas  were  in  this 
county  and  most  of  the  later  ones.  They  were  near  Munnsville,  and 
just  east  of  Oneida  creek  when  Van  Corlaer  visited  them  in  1634. 
His  is  our  first  account  of  their  town.  They  received  the  Tuscaroras 
into  their  ample  domain  early  in  the  i8th  century.  David  Zeis- 
berger  gave  the  names  of  several  Tuscarora  villages  on  the  main 
trail,  one  of  which  has  survived. 

1  A  small  burial  and  fishing  place  at  Oneida  lake  on  the  east  bank 
of  Chittenango  creek.    Bone  relics. 

2  A  camp  with  flint  implements  and  flakes  on  the  east  side  of 
Chittenango  creek,  east  of  lot  15,  Manlius.    A  little  north  of  this 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


87 


was  a  stockade  on  a  high  bluff  at  a  bend  of  the  stream,  perhaps  the 
one  built  by  Sir  William  Johnson  for  the  Tuscaroras,  this  being  then 
called  Tuscarora  creek.    The  Turtle  tree  was  there. 

3  A  trail  from  Oneida  to  Chittenango  crossed  the  creek  a  little 
above  the  turnpike  bridge  and  passed  by  an  old  stockade  and 
orchard  on  Col.  Sage's  farm  near  Chittenango  village. — Clark, 

.  I  :384.  The  farm  was  once  known  as  the  Moyer  and  later  as  the 
Osgood  farm. — Hammond,  p.  602.  Perhaps  the  Zeniinge  of  Zeis- 
berger. 

4  A  cemetery  north  of  Cazenovia  lake  and.  two  miles  east  of  Oran, 
on  the  Hitchcock  farm.  Recent  articles.  There  are  lodge  sites 
also. 

5  ]\Iany  small  camps  at  the  head  of  Cazenovia  lake  and  many 
signs  of  recent  tillage. 

6  The  plan  of  the  stockade  west  of  Cazenovia  village  in  Clark's 
Onondaga  and  copied  by  Squier,  is  too  large  and  wide.  Fig.  60  by 
the  writer  represents  the  actual  form.  It  is  on  the  Hunt  farm  and 
is  on  a  narrow  ridge  between  two  deep  ravines.  It  was  occupied 
not  far  from  1600  but  no  European  articles  have  been  found.  A 
barbed  bone  fishhook  suggests  some  knowledge  of  Europeans. 
Potteryf  with  human  forms  and  faces  as  ornaments,  and  some 
peculiar  clay  pipes  are  among  the  relics.  The  post  holes  across  the 
ridge  at  either  end  from  north  to  south  are  yet  (1898)  distinct.  The 
east  line  is  about  330  feet  long  and  the  length  from  east  to  west 
about  790  feet,  rapidly  descending  the  ridge.  Nearly  midway  the 
width  is  about  100  feet.  There  is  one  gate  near  the  northeast 
corner  and  two  at  the  west  end.  The  total  area  is  about  four  and 
one  half  acres.    There  are  caches  at  the  west  end. 

7  Lodges  and  relics  occur  near  the  village  at  the  foot  of  Caze- 
novia lake  and  there  was  a  fish  weir  in  the  outlet.  There  are  also 
confused  stories  of  a  fort  in  the  village. 

8  L.  W.  Lcdyard  reported  a  fort  on  the  Swetland  farm  about 
four  miles  southwest  of  Cazenovia  village  whence  he  had  a  fine 
grooved  stone.  He  could  give  no  farther  account  of  it,  but  it  has 
since  been  reported  to  the  writer  as  a  circular  earthwork  four  miles 


88 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


south  of  Cazenovia  and  one  and  one  half  miles  east  of  Delphi.  It 
has  flint  arrowheads. 

9  Mr  Ledyard  said  there  were  graves  on  Quarry  hill  two  miles 
southeast  of  Cazenovia.  Tliis  may  refer  to  a  place  on  the  Jackson 
farm  one  and  one  half  miles  southeast  of  Cazenovia  village  where 
A.  G.  Richmond  got  a  large  grooved  boulder  in  1897.  This  lay  a 
little  west  of  a  comparatively  modern  Indian  village  site. 

10  Mr  Ledyard  reptDrted  an  inclosure  three  miles  northeast  of 
Cazenovia  village,  east  of  Bingley  and  near  the  quarry.  This  or 
another  has  been  described  a  mile  west  of  Fenner.  In  the  History 
of  Madison  county,  p.  200,  a  breastwork  with  early  relics  is  men- 
tioned east  of -schoolhouse  no.  5.  A  skeleton  was  found  in  1861 
while  placing  a  flagstafif  at  the  school. 

11  The  Nichols's  pond  site  in  Fenner  three  miles  east  of  Perry- 
ville,  has  been  thought  the  fort  attacked  by  Champlain  in  161 5  and 
has  more  points  of  agreement  than  others.  The  identification  is 
due  to  Gen.  John  S.  Clark  of  Auburn,  but  the  site  is  in  the  Oneida 
territory^  not  the  Onondaga.  A  limestone  boulder  on  the  site  and 
near  the  pond  and  which  is  over  12  feet  long,  is  probably  the  original 
Oneida  stone.  The  usual  Iroquois  articles  are  found  but  no  traces 
of  a  palisade.  Four  lines  of  pickets  may  have  furnished  their 
own  support  without  holes.  The  stockade  must  have  extended 
some  distance  into  the  very  shallow  pond,  now  sometimes  dry,  in 
order  to  secure  an  abundant  supply  of  water.  This  is  but  a  few 
inches  deep.  Ridiculous  estimates  have  been  made  of  the  size  of 
the  village,  which  was-  not  more  than  500  by  700  feet,  not  including 
the  pond.  The  site  is  a  low  plateau,  extending  over  800  feet  from 
the  road  on  the  east  to  the  inlet  and  low  land  on  the  west.  ReHcs 
occur  only  on  the  west  side;  nothing  appears  in  the  stony  ground 
eastward.  The  northern  part  is  a  thin  woodland,  and  no  traces  wxre 
found  in  a  plowed  field  south  of  this  and  500  feet  from  the  west 
bank.  The  village  was  confined  to  that  part  east  of  the  inlet.  Not 
far  ^rom  the  mouth  of  this  the  outlet  leaves  the  pond,  flowing  east 
southeast.  Some  caches  appear  on  the  northeast  bank.  The  site 
is  secluded,  with  no  natural  defense.  The  low  lands  on  the  west  are 
subject  to  overflow,  but  the  site  fairly  agrees  with  Champlain's  ac- 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


89 


count.  The  Onondagas  were  then  hving  near  Limestone  creek. 
Fig.  59  is  a  general  plan  of  the  site  by  the  writer,  who  has  carefully 
examined  it  twice.  Till  recently  only  prehistoric  articles  have  been 
reported  there,  but  in  1899  several  French  iron  axes  were  found, 
confirming  its  reputed  date. 

12  Clay  and  stone  pipes  are  found  along  the  ridge  in  Lenox,  a 
little  farther  north,  but  it  is  impossible  to  locate  a  work  described 
and  figured  by  Mr  Schoolcraft.  He  places  it  in  Lenox  10  miles 
northwest  of  Oneida  Castle,  which  would  be  in  Oneida  lake.  It 
should  read  southwest.  He  adds  that  it  was  on  a  stream  a  few 
miles  above  an  iron  cupola,  probably  Lenox  furnace.  He  thought 
it  a  French  fort,  but  his  plan  is  unsatisfactory  and  the  real  traces 
seem  aboriginal.  It  may  have  been  near  Merrillsville  or  on  the 
other  branch  of  the  creek. 

13  Near  Wampsville  in  Lenox  there  was  an  Indian  village  since 
the  white  settlement. — Hammond,  p.  489 

14  The  Oneidas  moved  northward  in  the  i8th  century,  but  still 
clung  to  their  ancient  valley  and  its  vicinity.  Canowaraghere,  or 
Kanoalohale,  the  present  Oneida  Castle,  was  new  in  1762,  the  old 
castle  being  still  retained.  This  was  12  miles  from  Oneida  lake,  and 
a  fort  W3i%  built  there.  There  were  then  two  villages  one  being  near 
the  lake.    The  fort  seems  to  have  been  east  of  the  creek. 

15  On  the  hills  directly  south  of  Oneida  Castle,  and  two  or  three 
miles  distant,  is  a  reputed  battle  ground  from  the  abundance  of 
arrowheads  and  which  is  probably  a  village  site. 

16  Canaseraga  was  the  principal  Tuscaror*  town,  but  may  not  at 
first  have  occupied  the  present  site.  In  1792  it  was  west  of  the 
creek,  and  so  many  Oneidas  lived  with  the  Tuscaroras  that  it  was 
often  called  the  Oneida  town.  There  were  many  houses  there  when 
the  whites  came,  10  or  more  on  the  hill  west  of  the  creek. 

17  A  large  deposit  of  human  bones  is  on  Dunlap's  farm  in  the 
northeast  part  of  Stockbridge  and  there  are  graves  on  William 
Smith's  farm. — Hammond,  p.  733 

18  A  fort  in  the  southwest  part  of  Stockbridge. — French,  p.  393. 
This  seems  one  reported  by  Gerritt  Smith.  A  curved  bank  and 
ditch  are  said  to  remain,  but  the  accounts  given  the  writer  indicate 


go  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

a  natural  formation,  with  actual  relics  and  some  possible  occupation 
on  a  hillside. 

19  Near  Munnsville  and  east  of  Oneida  creek  the  Oneidas  lived  a 
long  time,  removing  short  distances  as  occasion  required.  They  were 
in  that  vicinity  when  Van  Corlaer  visited  them  in  December  1634. 
This  is  the  first  record  of  them  as  a  distinct  people.  Gen.  James 
Grant  Wilson  accidentally  discovered  his  journal  a  few^  years  since 
and  had  it  translated  and  published.  From  this  a  few  notes  regard- 
ing the  town  are  given.  "  Before  we  reached  the  castle  we  saw 
three  graves,  just  like  our  graves  in  length  and  height;  usually  their 
graves  .are  round.  These  graves  were  surrounded  with  palisades 
that  they  had  split  from  trees  and  they  were  closed  up  so  nicely  that 
it  was  a  wonder  to  see.  They  were  painted  with  red,  white  and 
black  paint;  but  the  chiefs  grave  had  an  entrance,  and  at  the  top  of 
that  was  a  big  w^ooden  bird,  and  all  around  were  painted  dogs  and 
deer  and  snakes  and  other  beasts.  We  marched  boldly  to 
the  castle,  where  the  savages  opened  to  let  us  pass,  and  so  we 
marched  through  them  by  the  gate,  which  w'as  three  and  a  half  feet 
wide,  and  at  the  top  were  standing  three  big  wooden  images  like 
men,  of  carved  wood,  and  with  them  I  saw  three  scalps  fluttering  in 
the  wind.  .  .  This  castle  has  two  gates,  one  on  the  east  and 
one  on  the  west  side.  On  the  east  side  a  lock  of  hair  was  also  hang- 
ing, but  this  gate  was  one  and  a  half  feet  smaller  than  the  other  one 
.  .  .  This  castle  is  situated  on  a  very  high  hill  and  was  sur- 
rounded by  two  rows  of  palisades.  It  was  767  paces  in  circum- 
ference. There  are  houses  but  much  better,  higher  and  more 
finished  than  all  the  others  we  saw.  A  good  many  houses  had 
wooden  fronts  that  are  painted  with  all  sorts  of  beasts.  There  they 
sleep,  mostly  on  elevated  boards,  more  than  any  other  savages." 

In  1677  Greenhalgh  said  that  Oneida  was  about  20  miles  from 
a  small  river  which  comes  out  of  the  hills  to  the  southward  and  runs 
into  Lake  Teshiroque,  (Oneida)  about  30  miles  distant  from  the 
]\Ia(|uacs  river,  which  is  to  the  northward.  The  town  is  newly 
settled,  double  stockaded,  but  little  cleared  land.''  20  miles  should 
be  two  from  Oneida  creek.  In  1696  De  Vaudreuil  encamped  on 
Oneida  creek  "  within  a  (French)  league  of  the  village."  Next 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


91 


morning  he  crossed  to  the  east  side  of  the  stream  and  destroyed  the 
town.    The  sites  in  the  vicinity  will  be  described  under  one  number. 

According  to  Schoolcraft  the  Oneida  stone  was  of  syenite  and 
stood  on  a  commanding  eminence  in  Stockbridge.  The  White 
stone  at  the  spring  was  also  known  as  this.  This  had  been  placed  in 
a  fence  by  Job  Francis,  the  owner.  Another  noteworthy  stone  of 
limestone  was  on  Gen.  Knox's  farm  a  mile  or  more  south. — School- 
craft. Report,  p.  46-48.  The  truth  is  that  there  were  several  of  these 
stones,  and  some  were  portable.  There  is  a  tradition  that  the 
Oneidas  carried  one  to  Wisconsin,  but  this  is  denied  there.  French 
describes  it  as  a  boulder  of  gneiss  on  the  farm  of  James  H.  Gregg  in 
Stockbridge,  and  now  at  the  entrance  of  Utica  cemetery. — French, 
p.  458.  ]\lr  Kirkland  said  it  was  a  stone  which  a  strong  man  couM 
carry,  standing  by  a  chief's  door  but  sometimes  placed  in  a  tree. 

Xone  of  these  seem  to  agree  with  the  Council  rock  east  of  the 
creek  and  southeast  of  iMunnsville.  It  is  said  to  have  been  carried 
away  piecemeal.  "  Thomas  Rockwell  settled  on  East  hill  in  Stock- 
bridge  in  181 3.  The  Council  rock  was  on  his  farm  which  has 
been  known  as  Prime's  hill.  50  acres  of  tliis,  including  the  council 
ground,  were  sold  by  him." — Hamnwiid,  p.  745.  Prime's  hill  council 
ground  i^^  1805  was  a  clearing  of  half  an  acre  with  an  .entrance 
through  the  bushes  on  the  east.  In  the  center  was  a  circle,  20 
feet  in  diameter  and  two  feet  above  the  general  level,  covered  with 
fine  coals.  \\'ithin  a  radius  of  three  miles  aroiuid  were  many 
graves,  with  iron  axes,  brass  kettles,  pipes,  etc. — Hauiinoiid,  p.  102 

"  There  are  evidences  that  the  whole  range  of  high  hills  east  of 
Oneida  creek  was  once  thickly  peopled.  .  .  Their  burial  grounds 
have  been  discovered  in  several  places,  from  the  south  line  of  the 
town  (Stockbridge)  to  the  north  on  this  range."  The  farms  of 
Taylor  Gregg,  Ichabod  Francis  and  William  Smith  are  mentioned. 
The  articles  are  mostly  recent. — Hammond,  p.  y^i-^Z-  The  Council 
spring  is  on  the  farm  of  ^Nlary  Doxtater  at  the  foot  of  West  Hill. — 
Hammond,  p.  743 

20  Under  this  is  placed  a  group  of  sites  northeast  of  ]\Iunnsville. 
French  says  there  was  a  burial  ground  a  mile  southeast  of  that 
place  on  the  hillside.    There  is  a  small  one  there,  but  the  reference 


92  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

is  probably  to  a  site  two  miles  northeast  examined  by  the  writer 
in  1892.  It  is  northeast  of  Mr  Ellenwood's  house  and  has  abund- 
ant modern  relics  but  no  brown  pottery.  Skeletons  are  rarely 
found  but  it  seems  a  long  peopled  and  rather  recent  village.  A 
little  south  is  the  Hog's  Back  where  some  have  located  a  stockade, 
perhaps  doubtfully.  Half  a  mile  farther  south  are  old  corn  hills 
in  Mrs  Cummings's  woods. 

21  There  were  Indian  cornfields  near  Madison  lake  in  Madison, 
and  an  Indian  opening  in  the  same  town. — Hammond,  p.  602 

22  Woodman's  lake  and  Leland's  ponds  belonged  to  the  Oneida 
fisheries  when  their  villages  were  near.  These  are  in  the  pine  woods 
in  Eaton. — Hammond,  p.  281 

23  Many  relics  have  been  found  at  Earlville  and  Poolville. — 
Hammond,  p.  431 

24  The  Windfall  party  built  a  church  in  Lenox,  three  miles  south 
of  Oneida  Castle  on  the  road  to  Knoxville. — Hammond,  p.  114. 
St  Peter's  church  also  stood  on  a  hill  in  Vernon,  southeast  of  the 
butternut  orchard  near  Oneida  Castle.  A  cemetery  was  opened 
west  of  the  West  Shore  railroad  depot,  where  the  head  of  each 
skeleton  rested  on  a  modern  brick. 

25  In  1794  the  Christian  party  were  at  the  foot  of  Stockbridge 
hill  near  the  Five  Chimneys  tavern.    A  few  Oneidas  remain. 

26  At  one  time  40  families  lived  near  Hatch's  lake  and  swamp 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  Eaton. — Hammond,  p.  293 

27  Two  miles  below  Hamilton  was  a  recent  camping  ground. — 
Hammond,  p.  414 

28  As  late  as  1810  some  Oneidas  lived  at  Canastota.  Some 
mounds  were  reported  at  Owen's  point,  Chittenango  creek. 

Monroe  county.  Mr  George  H.  Harris  has  given  an  excellent 
account  of  the  sites  and  trails  of  Monroe  county  in  the  first  15 
chapters  of  the  Semi-centennial  history  of  Rochester,  1884.  Before 
his  death  these  were  issued  separately,  and  entitled  the  Aboriginal 
occupation  of  the  lower  Genesee  country.  Tie  spared  no  pains  to 
make  this  full  and  accurate.  Mr  Squier  also  did  some  good  work 
there. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


93 


1  In  the  town  of  Greece  the  Erie  canal  forms  the  northern 
boundary  of  George  H.  Lee's  farm.  In  digging  it  in  1820  or 
1822,  20  skeletons  were  found,  but  no  articles  with  them. — Harris, 
p.  27 

2  Mounds  and  burial  places  have  been  found  at  various  spots 
along  a  supposed  trail  westward  from  Hanford's  landing  below 
Rochester.  Large  skeletons,  copper  ornaments,  etc.  were  found  in 
these.  Half  a  mile  east  of  the  Lee  farm  on  that  of  Samuel  Trues- 
dale  in  Greece,  several  skeletons  were  exhumed  in  1878,  one  of 
these  being  very  large.  This  was  separate  from  the  rest  under  a 
low  mound  and  with  a  piece  of  mica  and  an  arrowpoint. — Harris, 
p.  26 

3  A  mound  was  reported  in  Chili  a  few  miles  northwest  of  Scott?- 
ville. — Squier,  p.  60 

4  E.  P.  Clapp  reports  an  early  village  site  half  a  mile  north 
northwest  of  the  river  bridge  between  Scottsville  and  Henrietta, 
east  of  the  river.  There  are  many  mussel  shells  but  no  graves. 
There  is  also  an  old  cemetery  west  of  and  near  Scottsville,  in  a 
gravel  pit.  The  skeletons  are  drawn  up,  but  no  articles  are  found 
except  a  flat  stone  at  the  feet  of  each.  There  is  another  cemetery 
80  rods  sG^th  of  the  last,  with  large  bones.  The  faces  turn  down 
and  the  hands  are  under  the  heads.  A  grave  was  found  half  a  mile 
southeast  of  Scottsville,  a  fine  pipe  lying  with  the  skeleton.  Some 
pottery  occurs  farther  east. 

There  was  a  Seneca  village  at  Scottsville  below  Ohagi. — 
Morgan,  p.  434 

5  Southwest  of  Rochester  and  within  three  miles  of  Scottsville 
in  the  town  of  Wheatland  were  four  old  works. — Barber,  p.  271. 
Others  say  two,  and  Kirkland  visited  two  in  1798.  The  first  he 
found  about  two  miles  west  of  Allen's  residence,  which  was  on  an 
extensive  flat  at  a  deserted  Indian  village  near  the  junction  of  a 
creek  (probably  Allen's)  with  the  Genesee,  eight  miles  north  of 
the  old  Indian  village  of  Kanawageas  and  five  miles  north  of  the 
magic  spring,  so  called  by  the  Indians,  (Caledonia)  who  believed 
its  waters  had  the  power  of  petrifying  all  things  subjected  to  their 
influence.    This  work  inclosed  about  six  acres  and  had  six  gates." 


94 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


It  was  nearly  half  circular  with  a  natural  bank  on  the  fourth 
side.  There  was  a  covered  way  to  the  water. — Yates,  p.  15-16. 
Squier  also  quotes  this  and  adds  that  the  usual  relics  were  found. 
Half  a  mile  north  of  this  on  higher  land  Mr  Kirkland  found  a 
smaller  and  stronger  work.  Both  had  Allen's  creek  on  one  side. 
Mr  Squier  said  that  nothing  indicated  these  spots  "  except  the 
greater  abundance  of  stones  on  the  line  of  the  former  embank- 
ments."— Squier,  p.  59-60 

6  Frank  Kingsbury  three  miles  east  of  Mumford  plowed  up 
bones  in  1898  and  then  dug  up  five  well  preserved  skeletons. 

7  At  the  upper  Charlotte  ferry  and  near  by  have  been  found 
arrowheads-  and  stone  pestles,  bullets,  etc. — Harris,  p.  43 

8  A  break  in  the  cliff  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Genesee,  half  a 
mile  below  the  lower  fall,  makes  a  natural  landing  place  which  was 
a  great  camping  ground.  There  were  two  mounds  not  over  100 
feet  from  the  edge  of  the  bluff,  which  have  been  levelled,  but  skele- 
tons and  relics  have  been  found.  This  is  Brewer's  landing,  half 
a  mile  north  of  Hanford's  which  is  on  the  other  shore. — HarriSy 
p.  23-26 

9  Squier  vainly  searched  for  a  work  between  the  river  and  Iron- 
dequoit  bay,  five  miles  north  of  Rochester. — Squier,  p.  58.  Harris 
found  this.  ''An  ancient  fortification  stood  near  the  ford  of  a  brook 
which  rises  in  the  little  vale  southeast  of  Rattlesnake  point.  It 
was  the  ruins  of  this  fort  for  which  Mr  Squier  searched  in  vain  in 
1848." — Harris,  p.  42 

10  Traces  of  a  town  and  cemetery  were  found  on  Daniel  Leake's 
farm  on  the  east  side  below  Brewer's  landing. — Squier,  p.  42 

11  Most  of  those  in  Rochester  are  grouped  under  this  number. 
There  was  an  old  fort  in  front  of  Mr  Hooker's  house  near  Hooker's 
cemetery  and  North  avenue.  A  large  settlement  was  on  the  sand 
knolls  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Culver  farm  and  near  North  avenue. 
Another  large  town  was  on  the  top  of  the  hill  over  which  Lake  ave- 
nue passes,  and  all  the  slope  thence  to  the  river  and  north  to  Han- 
ford's landing  was  used  for  camps.  Work  shops  for  flint  were 
numerous  toward  the  river  end  of  Frauenberger  avenue.  There 
were  camps  at  the  Indian  spring,  at  the  corner  of  Spring  street 
and  Spring  alley,  and  all  the  way  thence  to  Hanford's.    Near  Elm- 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


95 


wood  avenue  an  early  town  covered  all  Oak  hill.  Stone  relics 
were  found  all  the  way  from  the  feeder  down  to  Red  creek.  Indian 
huts  were  scattered  about  the  bluf¥  near  Franklin  and  North 
St  Paul  streets  until  1819. — Harris,  p,  39-42 

12  A  work  at  Hanford's  landing-  then  three  miles  north  of 
Rochester  was  "  a  semicircular  embankment  the  ends  of  which 
extended  to  the  very  edge  of  the  immense  ravine.  .  .  It  had 
three  narrow  gateways  placed  at  irregular  intervals." — Sqiiicr,  p.  58. 
There  was  no  cemetery  and  the  nearest  known  west  of  the  river 
was  two  miles  away. — Harris,  p.  41 

13  There  was  a  cemetery  at  the  sand  cut  of  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral railroad  east  of  the  Allen's  creek  embankment.  Many  skele- 
tons and  recent  relics  were  exhumed  in  1876.  "  Between  the  ceme- 
tery and  the  Pittsford  road  quantities  of  stone  relics  have  been 
found  indicating  the  site  of  a  prehistoric  town.  West  of  this  is 
located  the  great  cairn  of  limestones." — Harris,  p.  43.  Mr  Harris 
adds  that  the  Senecas  used  to  fish  in  some  large  ponds  north  of 
Mendon  Center  and  many  signs  of  camps  occur  along  Allen's 
creek. — Harris,  p.  61 

14  Dr  A.  L.  Benedict  of  Buffalo  opened  some  graves  six  miles 
south  of  Q'enesee  junction  near  Rochester.  Mr  Clapp  reports  a 
site  at  West  Henrietta,  near  Red  creek. 

15  There  was  a  village  at  the  present  East  Rush  cemetery. — 
Harris,  p.  60.  Stone  implements  occur  on  the  Thomas  farm,  one 
and  one  half  miles  southwest  of  East  Rush.  This  is  south  of 
Honeoye  creek  and  near  the  mouth  of  Stony  brook. 

16  Northwest  of  this  and  half  a  mile  southwest  of  West  Hen- 
rietta Corners  was  another  on  ]\Iarvin  Williams's  farm. — Harris,  p. 
60.  ^Ir  Clapp  reports  a  camp  two  miles  southwest  of  West  Hen- 
rietta, just  east  of  Sanger  creek.  There  are  fine  arrowheads,  and 
pottery.  Half  a  mile  southeast  a  large  stone  was  found,  laid  on 
a  good  stone  foundation.  The  stone  was  5  by  8  feet  across, 
and  a  foot  thick.  It  was  covered  by  eight  inches  of  soil.  An  old 
camp  was  half  a  mile  southeast  of  this.  A  fine  pipe  and  other 
relics  came  from  a  gravel  pit  half  a  mile  southeast  of  West  Hen- 
rietta. 


96 


^    NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


17  Two  considerable  inclosures  were  in  Rush  near  the  village 
of  West  Rush  and  on  the  banks  of  Honeoye  creek,  which  defended 
one  of  these  on  one  side.  The  other  was  on  higher  ground  100 
rods  southward.  Each  w^as  of  four  acres  and  had  caches  and 
broken  pottery. — Squier,  p.  60.  Piles  of  stones  of  uniform  size^ 
a  little  larger  than  a  hen's  egg,  were  found  on  Isaac  Cox's  farm, 
one  and  one  quarter  miles  northeast  of  West  Rush. 

Skeletons  were  found  a  mile  northwest  of  West  Rush.  Many  iron 
tomahawks  and  war  arrowheads  have  been  found  in  a  slight  gully 
three  fourths  of  a  mile  northwest  of  West  Rush,  and  12  skeletons 
were  exhumed  in  digging  a  cellar  about  the  same  distance  north 
of  that  village.  Across  the  road  others  w'ere  found.  These  w^ere 
on  the  land  of  Peter  Martin  and  J.  B.  Hamilton.  A  little  east  of 
these  were  early  traces  of  an  earthw^ork.  Similar  traces  have  been 
reported  north  of  Honeoye  creek,  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north 
of  West  Rush.  At  another  village  site  half  a  mile  wxst  of  West 
Rush,  betw^een  the  N.  Y.  C.  railroad  and  the  creek,  Mr  Clapp  says 
"Two  distinct  races  have  been  found;  the  platycnemic  man  and 
also  another  race.  There  are  many  relics  in  the  graves  of  the 
latter.    Also  pottery,  pipes,  etc.,  on  the  surface." 

18  "  On  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  on  a  high  bluf¥  near  Iron- 
dequoit  bay  in  1796  the  bank  caved  ofif  and  untombed  a  great 
quantity  of  human  bones  of  a  large  size." — Turner,  P.  &  G.  p.  428. 
It  was  a  natural  sand  mound  west  of  the  present  w^est  angle  of 
the  bay.  "As  late  as  1830  human  bones  of  an  unusually  large 
size  w^ere  occasionally  seen  projecting  from  the  face  of  the  bluff 
or  lying  on  the  beach." — Harris,  p.  22.  Others  are  placed  under 
this  number.  "  Two  mounds  occupy  the  high  sandy  grounds  to 
the  westward  of  Irondequoit  bay  where  it  connects  with  Lake 
Ontario.  They  are  small,  the  largest  not  exceeding  five  feet  in 
height."  They  had  been  opened  and  only  charcoal  and  pieces  of 
bones  remained.  Early  relics  were  on  this  hight. — Sqiiier,  p. 
56-57»  pl-  7y  no.  2.  Squier's  plan  is  given  in  fig.  57.  They  were 
on  the  hill  south  of  the  Sea  Breeze  hotel  about  30  feet  northeast 
of  the  observatory.  Plarris  was  told  that  W.  H.  Penfield  opened 
them  in  1817  and  found  a  "  sword  scabbard,  bands  of  silver,  belt 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


97 


buckles  "  and  like  ornaments. — Harris,  p.  46.  There  was  a  gully 
east  of  these  and  a  cemetery  a  few  rods  beyond.  Harris  says  that 
the  small  island  on  the  west  side  of  the  bay  on  which  the  Schneider 
house  stands  is  of  artificial  origin.  It  was  elliptic  and  17  feet  high, 
built  of  alternate  layers  of  clay  and  sand,  which  were  removed. 
In  the  center  15  feet  below  the  surface  was  a  bushel  of  fine  stone 
implements. — Harris,  p.  46.  The  French  built  Fort  des  Sables  neai 
the  Sea  Breeze  site  in  17 16. — Harris,  p.  63 

19  From  Irondequoit  landing  to  the  lake  all  is  historic  according 
to  Harris.  There  was  an  Indian  cemetery  just  north  of  the  float 
bridge  road  with  200  grave  mounds  in  rows.  There  were  great 
corn  hills  in  the  woods  near  by  and  there  was  a  landing  place  on 
Plum  Orchard  point  just  below. — Harris,  p.  45 

20  A  trail  ran  near  the  lake  to  Sodus.  The  village  last  occu- 
pied by  Seneca  Indians  in  Webster  was  located  on  the  ridge  near 
this  path  about  one  mile  east  of  this  bay,  and  the  latter  day  Mis- 
sissauges  camped  on  the  same  ground."  Near  this  and  in  a  hollow 
north  of  the  landing  12  skeletons  were  found  in  a  circle  like  the 
spokes  of  a  wheel  with  feet  to  the  center,  wdiere  were  rude  stone 
relics.  Alodern  relics  occur  all  about  Rochester  on  high  lands. 
Graves  in#hollows  or  ravines  have  early  ones.  A  mound  on  a 
blufif  north  of  Dunbar  hollow  yielded  many  stone  implements. — 
Harris,  p.  45 

21  On  the  east  shore  of  the  bay  opposite  the  mounds  on  the 
west  side  was  a  large  sepulchral  mound. — Squicr,  p.  57 

22  A  trail  ran  to  a  salt  spring  one  and  one  half  miles  east  of 
the  bay  and  half  that  distance  from  the  lake.  There  the  Indians 
camped  and  made  salt. — Harris,  p.  45 

23  Squier  could  learn  nothing  of  a  fort  in  Penfield  mentioned 
by  Macauley. — Squier,  p.  58.  Harris  identified  it  with  an  oblit- 
erated fort  on  the  sandbar  trail  north  of  the  ridge  and  quite  large. 
The  arrowheads  were  large  and  broad. — Harris,  p.  45 

24  Capt.  John  Schuyler  built  a  trading  post  at  the  noted  Indian 
landing  on  Irondequoit  creek  in  1721.  The  foundations  were 
found  in  1798.  This  was  a  place  of  resort.— Harr/^,  p.  67.  Half 
a  mile  south  of  this  landing  at  some  springs  were  many  camps  and 
relics. — Harris,  p.  39 


98 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


25  There  were  springs  and  camps  on  the  west  side  of  this  creek 
near  a  rift  famous  as  a  fishing  place. — Harris,  p.  43 

26  On  a  sand  ridge  in  the  town  of  Pittsford  south  of  the  Iron- 
dequoit  valley  and  a  mile  east  of  Allen's  creek  is  a  heap  of  Hme- 
stone  boulders  with  no  others  near.  The  Indians  looked  on  them 
with  reverence. — Harris,  p.  21 

27  Greenhalgh  said  that  Tiotehatton  was  30  miles  west  of  Cana- 
gorah  and  had  about  120  houses  mostly  large.  Harris  says 
"  Totiakton  was  distant  from  Gannagora  just  11  miles  in  a  north- 
west direction.  Its  former  site  was  located  by  O.  H.  IMarshall  in 
1847."  Its  name  alludes  to  the  bend  in  Honeoye  creek,  on  the 
west  bank  .of  wdiich  it  stood.  Part  of  Mr  Harris's  general  plan 
of  the  site  is  given  in  fig.  61.  "  It  is  in  the  town  of  Mendon  on 
the  northeasternmost  bend  of  the  Honeoye  outlet  two  miles  north 
of  Honeoye  Falls  exactly  12J  miles  in  an  air  line  due  south 
of  the  center  of  Rochester.  The  ground  has  been  under  culti- 
vation 75  years,  yielding  an  annual  harvest  of  antiquities.  . 
Three  cemeteries  have  been  discovered.  .  .  all  skeletons 
unearthed  have  been  found  in  a  sitting  posture  facing  the  east." 
Mr  Sheldon  found  a  square  stockade  of  half  an  acre  on  the  edge 
of  the  bluf¥  and  near  the  creek.  It  w^as  "  built  of  logs  12  feet 
long,  set  closely  together  in  the  earth  to  the  depth  of  four  feet." 
This  is  a  very  modern  style,  though  Mr  Harris  thought  it  was 
made  just  after  De  Nonville's  invasion. — Harris,  p.  58,  59.  This 
was  La  Concepcion  of  the  Jesuits  which  was  burned  in  1687.  Ac- 
cording to  George  S.  Conover  it  was  removed  to  the  vicinity 
of  Canandaigua  and  called  the  second  Seneca  castle.  It  was  visited 
by  La  Salle,  and  may  have  been  abandoned  soon  after. 

28  Half  a  mile  east  of  the  village  of  Penfield  on  the  bank  of 
Irondequoit  creek  was  a  sepulchral  mound  once  about  eight  feet 
high.  There  was  a  depression  near  showing  whence  the  earth  had 
come. — Squicr,  p.  57,  pi.  8.  no.  3 

29  A  few  rods  southwest  of  Rush  Junction  were  many  skeletons 
of  a  large  race.  There  were  many  pipes  and  other  relics.  An 
early  cemetery  half  a  mile  southwest  of  this  had  hardly  a  perfect 
skeleton,  and  no  relics.    A  similar  spot  is  half  a  mile  directly  south 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


99 


of  the  last  and  a  few  rods  from  the  river.  These  three  are  north 
of  Honeoye  creek,  and  were  reported  by  Mr  Clapp.  An  early 
cemetery  was  at  the  mouth  of  Honeoye  creek.  Early  relics  are 
scattered  along  the  river  thence  to  Avon  and  probably  farther. 

30  The  age  of  this  site  is  somewhat  confused.  G.  S.  Conover 
thought  it  the  early  Keinthe,  and  placed  it  a  mile  southwest  of 
Honeoye  Falls.  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  gives  it  nearly  the  same  location, 
but  more  to  the  north,  and  calls  it  the  Totiacton  of  1687.  He  identi- 
fies Sonnontouan  and  Totiacton,  of  missionary  days,  with  a  site  in 
Mendon,  one  and  one  half  miles  north  northwest  of  Honeoye  Falls. 
He  adds,  A  second  location,  and  probably  the  one  occupied  in 
1687  when  destroyed  by  fire,  was  on  the  Ball  farm,  a  mile  west 
of  Honeoye  Falls  village.  Here,  on  a  space  of  about  20  acrec, 
a  great  abundance  of  relics  have  been  found,  of  copper,  glass  and 
iron,  brass  crosses,  medals  and  rings,  and  hundreds  of  iron  axes 
bearing  evidence  of  having  passed  through  the  fire."  Raymond 
Dann,  on  whose  father's  farm  the  site  is,  says  it  is  on  a  little 
stream  flowing  into  the  Honeoye  creek  near  Sibleyville.  The  site 
is  of  about  20  acres,  and  he  had  explored  about  four  acres  of  the 
cemetery.  A  local  story  was  that  this  was  a  Totiacton  built  after 
1687.  Tht  writer  has  carefully  examined  Air  Dann's  very  fine  col- 
lection of  relics  and  feels  certain  the  village  could  not  have  been 
built  after  De  Nonville's  invasion.  This  is  the  view  of  both 
Conover  and  Clark,  though  they  differ  in  identifying  the  village. 
Many  of  the  articles  found  passed  out  of  use  among  the  Mohawks 
and  Onondagas  before  1650,  but  others  are  of  a  later  type.  On 
the  whole  it  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  it  one  of  the  villages 
destroyed  by  the  French.  A  later  examination  by  the  writer  showed 
two  cemeteries  and  also  some  neighboring  early  camps. 

31  A  cemetery  about  seven  miles  southeast  of  Bergen  has  some 
early  relics. 

32  A  cemetery  in  Churchville  is  by  the  West  Shore  railroad,  and 
there  are  arrowheads  toward  the  creek. 

33  All  of  the  following  were  reported  by  E.  P.  Clapp.  A  camp 
west  of  the  river,  and  200  yards  south  of  the  bridge  between  Scotts- 
ville  and  Rush.    Many  flint  implements.    Many  fine  arrowheads 


lOO 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


have  been  found  on  the  Warren  farm,  one  and  one  half  miles  south 
of  Scottsville.    Some  are  serrated. 

34  Bony  hill,  in  Wheatland,  has  its  name  from  the  human  bones 
which  covered  it  when  the  country  was  first  settled.  In  digging 
the  Valley  canal  in  1839-40,  many  bones  were  found,  which  seemed 
buried  in  trenches.  They  were  very  large.  The  hill  was  north 
of  the  Lehigh,  and  west  of  the  W.  N.  Y.  &  Pa.  railroad. 

35  Skeletons  were  found  in  a  sand  pit  150  feet  north  of  the  town 
line  in  Henrietta,  and  200  feet  from  the  river.  A  skull  and  kettle 
were  plowed  up  200  feet  east  of  these.  Some  skeletons  were  also 
found  on  the  line  of  the  Erie  railroad  200  feet  north  of  the  town  line. 

36  A  series  of  camps  occurs  on  the  upper  waters  of  Red  creek, 
two  miles  from  West  Henrietta. 

37  The  following  are  in  Rush.  A  fireplace  was  found  two  and  a 
half  feet  underground  in  the  river  bank,  three  fourths  of  a  mile  north 
of  the  bridge  between  Scottsville  and  Rush.  A  skeleton  was  found 
in  a  gravel  knoll  a  quarter  of  a  rnile  north  of  Scottsville  station.  Mr 
Clapp  says  of  this,  "  Found  in  a  lying  position,  on  right  side,  head 
to  the  south,  hands  and  feet  drawn  to  the  chin.  Facial  angle  of 
the  lowest  type;  scarcely  any  forehead,  retreating  chin,  protruding 
teeth.  A  fireplace  was  30  feet  from  this,  under  20  inches  of  un- 
disturbed soil."  A  large  early  village  was  80  rods  south  of  Scotts- 
ville station,  but  produced  only  flint  implements  and  chips. 
Another  early  village  was  half  a  mile  south  of  the  last.  A  large 
village  site  and  cemetery  are  just  west  of  the  Colt  pond,  one  and  one 
fourth  miles  south  of  Scottsville  station. 

A  cemetery  two  miles  ^  from  the  river  and  just  south  of  the 
town  line  between  Henrietta  and  Rush. 

Montgomery  county.  The  Mohawks  seem  to  have  entered  their 
historic  valley  late  in  the  i6th  century,  having  a  few  predecessors 
at  intervals.  At  first,  being  refugees  from  Canada,  they  sought 
retired  positions  on  tributaries  of  the  river,  drawing  nearer  to  that 
as  they  acquired  confidence  and  strength.  Like  all  the  Iroquois 
they  moved  often  and  a  wide  border  land  separated  them  from 
their  enemies  on  the  Hudson  river.  At  one  time  they  had  a  castle 
east  of  Schoharie  creek  but  were  driven  from  this  in  1626  and 


4  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  lOI 

found  that  stream  on  the  east  and  the  Mohawk  on  the  north  con- 
venient barriers  against  their  foes.  Arent  Van  Corlaer  found  them 
thus  grouped  within  a  space  of  about  14  miles  when  he  visited 
them  in  1634.  A  careful  computation  makes  each  of  his  miles 
average  about  two  English  miles,  and  his  itinerary,  based  on  this, 
is  interesting.  The  first  day  he  traveled  16  miles  and  lodged  near 
Vyoge  (Oiogue)  a  Mohawk  word  for  at  the  river,"  mentioning 
it  as  a  stream  which  ran  past  their  castles.  Next  morning  they 
went  about  two  miles  and  crossed  this  river,  following  its  course 
westerly  for  20  miles  farther.  When  morning  came  the  river  was 
recrossed  and  they  were  soon  at  Onekagoncka,  the  first  castle  of 
the  Mohawks,  a  mile  farther  on  or  about  39  miles  from  Albany. 
They  then  went  to  Canowarode  a  mile  farther.  Senatsycrosy  was 
passed  at  the  end  of  another  mile  and  another  three  miles  brought 
them  to  the  second  castle  Canagere,  44  miles  from  Albany.  Two 
miles  beyond  this  they  forded  a  deep  stream  swollen  by  heavy  rains. 
A  mile  beyond  was  the  third  castle  Sohanidisse,  47  miles  from 
Albany.  A  mile  farther  was  Osguage,  and  another  swollen  stream 
even  more  dangerous.  Cawaoge  was  at  the  end  of  the  next  mile. 
Two  miles  beyond  was  the  fourth  castle  Tenotoge,  about  51  miles 
from  Albafiy  and  east  of  the  present  Canajoharie.  In  this  space 
were  four  castles  and  four  villages. 

That  this  estimate  is  approximately  correct  appears  from  the 
farther  itinerary  where  the  miles  may  have  been  less  exact.  They 
left  the  river,  as  was  customary,  and  took  the  direct  but  more  hilly 
trail  to  Oneida,  then  a  little  east  of  Munnsville  on  Oneida  creek. 
The  five  days'  journeys  were  respectively  14,  15,  15,  16  and  9 
English  miles  on  this  basis,  or  69  miles,  making  a  total  dis- 
tance from  Albany  to  Oneida  of  120  miles.  The  N.  Y.  C.  railroad 
distance  to  that  stream  is  122  miles.  Others  make  dififerent  esti- 
mates, but  the  writer  has  carefully  considered  the  matter  and 
believes  his  statement  correct. 

The  return  march  is  summarized  but  the  party  followed  the  same 
route,  finding  the  cabin  burned  where  they  had  hoped  to  lodge 
after  leaving  the  lower  castle.  Four  miles  by  guess,  east  of  that 
castle,  the  savages  pointed  out  a  high  mountain  where  they  had 


I02  *'      NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

had  a  fort  nine  years  before.  Presumably  this  would  be  seen  to  the 
southeast,  looking  across  the  river  from  somewhere  near  Amster- 
dam. This  was  east  of  Schoharie  creek.  By  retiring  to  the  other 
side  of  this  and  drawing  their  other  villages  to  the  south  side 
of  the  Mohawk  they  were  defended  by  two  large  streams,  which 
was  a  very  great  advantage. 

Both  field  work  and  history  testify  to  these  frequent  changes. 
The  castles  and  villages  shifted  from  side  to  side  of  the  valley. 
They  were  south  of  the  Mohawk  at  this  time  and  for  many  years 
later.  In  1677  all  were  on  the  north  side.  When  the  Mahikan 
war  was  over  they  lived  less  compactly  and  spread  up  and  down 
the  river.  No  attempt  therefore  will  now  be  made  to  follow  these 
changes  though  occasional  allusions  will  be  made. 

Dominie  Johannes  Megapolensis  (1642-70)  said  that  the  Turtle 
tribe  had  "  made  a  fort  of  palisades,  and  they  call  their  castle  As- 
serue.  Those  of  the  Bear  are  next  to  these,  and  their  castle  is 
called  Banagiro  (Kanagiro).  The  last  (the  Wolf)  are  a  progeny 
of  these  and  their  castle  is  called  Thenondiogo."  In  1677  Went- 
worth  Greenhalgh  said,  they  were  all  on  the  north  side  of  the  river 
and  their  villages  were  called  Cahaniaga,  Ganagora,  Canajorha 
and  Tionondogue.  The  French  knew  these  by  several  names.  On 
Adrian  Van  der  Donck's  map  (1656)  three  castles  appear  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river.  The  first  is  Carenay,  the  second  Canagero, 
the  third  tTonnontego.  Above  the  latter  and  north  of  the  river 
is  the  word  Sehanatisse  and  above  the  first  appears  Ounjune  or 
Assereawe.  The  maps  of  1614  and  1616  place  them  north  of  the 
river  but  they  were  on  both  sides  at  an  early  day. 

1  A  cemetery  two  and  one  half  miles  west  of  St  Johnsville. 

2  A  modern  village  and  cemetery  a  mile  northwest  of  Palatine 
Church  on  the  Nellis  farm. 

3  A  recent  cemetery  two  and  one  half  miles  northwest  of  Nellis- 
ton  and  north  of  the  river  on  the  Smith  farm  formerly  Lipe's. 
Northeast  were  about  20  caches  and  50  rods  north  a  village  of  two 
acres  with  recent  relics.    This  is  east  of  Palatine  Church. 

4  A  fine  and  elevated  village  site  east  of  Garoga  creek  over- 
looking Wagner's  hollow.    It  is  about  five  miles   northwest  of 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  103 

Canajoharie  with  an  area  of  several  acres  and  contains  recent 
articles. 

5  A  recent  village  site  in  Jonas  Rice's  woods  two  miles  east  of 
Stone  Arabia. 

6  About  six  miles  northeast  of  Palatine  Bridge  40  or  50  large 
caches  are  closely  grouped  in  England's  woods.  Lodge  sites  are 
near,  with  early  and  recent  articles. 

7  Small  recent  village  on  the  old  Frey  farm  one  and  one  half 
miles  west  of  Palatine  Bridge. 

8  Recent  village  on  Dewandalied's  farm  two  miles  north  of  the 
same  place. 

9  A  curious  cemetery  fully  described  by  S.  L.  Frey  in  the 
American  naturalist  for  1879,  P-  637-44.  It  was  explored  by  him 
and  A.  G.  Richmond  in  1878.  Copper  and  shell  beads  were 
found  and  several  stone  tubes.  The  graves  were  all  lined  with 
flat  stones  and  in  several  graves  large  stones  were  placed  above. 
This  is  a  mile  east  of  Palatine  Bridge.  Prehistoric  camps  on  the 
river  flats  and  ridge  at  Palatine  Bridge  and  for  two  miles  east. 

10  A  small  village  two  miles  northeast  of  Palatine  Bridge  on 
the  Sitterly  farm.    Coarse  flints  and  rude  pestles. 

11  A  vilkge  at  Schenck's  gulf  four  miles  east  of  Palatine  Bridge 
and  two  miles  from  the  river.    Perhaps  the  Canagara  of  1723. 

12  Another  near  Yost's  station  three  miles  east  of  last. 

13  A  prehistoric  site  four  miles  north  of  Yost's. 

14  In  1667  Gandawague  was  the  nearest  Mohawk  village  to  the 
Mahikans,  sometimes  called  Mohegans,  who  attacked  it  in  1669. 
Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  placed  it  north  of  the  Mohawk  on  a  high  plateau 
on  the  west  bank  of  Cayadutta  creek  and  north  of  the  road  to 
Stone  Arabia.  ReHcs  are  found.  L.  H.  Morgan  said  that  Gano- 
wauga  was  a  small  village  north  of  the  river  at  Fonda. 

15  There  was  a  recent  village  at  Tribeshill. 

16  P.  M.  Van  Epps  reported  a  cache  of  100  flints  in  a  bed 
of  ashes  in  Amsterdam.  They  were  of  the  usual  cache  pattern 
and  he  knew  of  similar  finds.  This  was  near  the  east  line  of  the 
town  and  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of  the  river. 

17  There  was  an  early  work  in  the  town  of  Minden  four  miles 
south  of  Fort  Plain  on  the  Otstungo  creek,  a  branch  of  the 


104 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Otsquago.  A  rocky  precipice  bounds  the  stream  and  defends  the 
fort  on  one  side.  There  is  a  ravine  on  the  other.  About  700  feet 
from  the  point  was  a  bank  from  side  to  side,  about  240  feet  long 
and  sHghtly  curving  at  the  ends.  Tlje  area  was  about  six  acres. 
Squier  reported  European  articles  but  later  explorers  find  none. 
His  plan  is  given  in  fig.  73  but  is  there  reduced. — Sqiiier,  p.  82,  83, 
pi.  12.  The  articles  are  fine  and  of  the  best  Iroquois  types.  Few 
graves  have  been  found. 

18  There  is  a  small  recent  site  a  mile  southwest  of  Fort  Plain. 

19  Canajoharie,  the  middle  castle  in  1730,  was  on  Prospect  hill 
in  Fort  Plain  and  on  the  east  side  of  Otsquago  creek.  There  are 
many  recent  graves  and  relics.  This  was  described  in  the  survey 
of  1723  as  "  the  Cassel  of  Ta-re-gi-o-rus."  There  were  one  or  two 
earlier  Canajoharies. 

20  There  are  two  sites  in  Happy  hollow  on  Brown's  farm  two 
miles  west  of  Canajoharie  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  They 
have  small  cemeteries,  one  old  and  one  recent,  with  corresponding 
burial.  Pottery  with  human  figures  occurs  here  as  in  several  other 
places. 

21  A  fishing  hamlet  on  the  south  side  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above 
Canajoharie.  Also  a  large  village  and  cemetery  on  the  hillside 
just  west  of  Canajoharie,  with  recent  articles. 

22  A  recent  cemetery  on  the  Van  Alstine  farm  just  east  of  the 
east  corporation  line  of  Canajoharie. 

23  A  small  village  at  Sprakers  on  a  hill  south  of  the  river. 
Gen.  Clark  thought  this  Theonondiogo,  the  western  castle  of  1642. 
This  would  correspond  with  the  writer's  estimate  for  1634. 

24  A  small  village  two  miles  southeast  of  Canajoharie. 

25  A  recent  village  at  Lasher's  two  miles  east  of  Sprakers. 

26  A  village  site  and  cemetery  at  or  near  Auriesville  where 
Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  locates  the  most  easterly  town  of  1642,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  and  half  a  mile  south  of  Auriesville.  The 
site  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  river  on  the  farm  of  Victor  A. 
Putnam  130  or  150  feet  above  the  river."  Here  a  shrine  is  a 
memorial  of  the  death  of  Father  Jogues.  Recent  relics  are  found. 
There  was  a  recent  village  of  a  temporary  character  on  the  hill 
west  of  Auriesville. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


27  Tehondaloga,  the  lower  ]\Iohawk  castle,  was  on  the  west  side 
of  Schoharie  creek  at  its  mouth. — Morgan,  p.  416.  There  was  a 
modern  village  at  Fort  Hunter  and  relics  occur  all  the  way  to 
Auriesville,  with  some  graves. 

28  Gen.  Clark  thought  Andagoron,  the  Bear  castle  of  1642, 
was  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  half  way  between  Sprakers 
and  Auriesville  or  two  miles  west  of  Fultonville.  Mr  Frey  how- 
ever placed  it  at  Fultonville  in  1666. 

29  On  the  north  bank  of  the  IMohawk  at  Amsterdam  were  paint- 
ings on  the  rocks  mentioned  by  many  writers. 

30  Four  or  five  miles  east  of  the  first  castle,  a  castle  was  pointed 
out  on  a  hill  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  where  the  ^Mohawks 
had  lived  in  1626.  This  was  in  1635.  This  hill  was  east  of  the 
Schoharie  creek  and  may  be  one  on  which  is  an  angular  earth- 
work described  by  W.  ^lax  Reid.    Its  character  is  doubtful. 

31  A  cache  of  celts^  was  reported  by  Isaac  Swart  north  of 
the  river  and  about  two  miles  from  the  east  line  of  the  town  of 
Amsterdam. 

32  A  village  was  on  the  east  side  of  Kauderback  creek  in  Palatine 
and  about  3  miles  from  the  river.  A  quarry  or  deposit  of  flint 
chips  was*  a  mile  south  of  this. 

33  A  village  near  the  west  line  of  ^lohawk  was  on  the  south 
side  of  Brings'  creek.  Another  was  north  of  this  in  the  forks  of 
Briggs  and  Wemple  creeks.  A  prehistoric  village  was  on  the  west 
side  of  Wemple  creek  and  farther  north  than  the  last. 

34  A  village  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the  west 
line  of  Glen. 

35  A  village  on  the  east  side  of  ^lartin's  creek  was  near  the  river. 
Another  was  two  miles  northwest  of  this. 

36  A  village  near  ]\Iill  Point  was  west  of  Schoharie  creek.  These 
five  sites  were  reported  by  G.  \V.  Chapin,  who  gave  more  exact 
details  of  some  others. 

Nassau  county,  i  \Y.  W.  Tooker  places  a  fort  of  the  IMarsapea- 
gues  one  and  one  half  miles  west  of  Amityville.  Lodge  sites  extend 
westward  to  Bellmore. 


Io6  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

2  An  old  village  and  a  single  grave  were  reported  at  Port  Wash- 
ington in  1889. 

3  Corn  fields  on  Oyster  bay  had  been  abandoned  in  1650.  There 
are  large  shell  heaps  near  the  shores. 

4  Judge  Samuel  Jones  said  that  when  that  part  of  Long  Island 
was  first  settled  there  were  two  Indian  forts  on  Fort  Neck  near 
Oyster  bay.  The  one  on  the  south  part  was  a  square  earthwork. 
The  other  was  a  palisade  on  the  meadow. — Sqider,  p.  94.  One 
was  stormed  by  the  whites  in  1653.  Prime  says  this  was  built  in 
1649,  and  measured  30  by  50  yards. — Prime,  p.  96 

5  The  Rockaways  lived  in  the  south  part  of  Hempstead  and 
left  large  shell  heaps.  They  had  several  villages  but  were  prin- 
cipally at  Near  Rockaway.  Some  were  at  the  head  of  Maspeth 
creek  and  others  on  Hog  island  in  Rockaway  bay. — Thompson, 
p.  67 

6  The  Merikokes  had  a  large  settlement  on  Hicks  neck  and 
on  other  points  between  there  and  Merrick. — Thompson,  p.  67 

7  Warlike  implements  have  been  found  at  Success  pond,  near 
Lakeville. — Mandeville,  p.  94 

New  York  county.  Alexander  Chenoweth's  discoveries  about 
Inwood  and  Harlem  excited  interest  in  1890,  and  he  collected  some 
good  articles.  L.  W.  Calver  and  J.  B.  James  of  New  York  have 
summarized  these  ^  and  other  sites  now  grouped  under  a  few 
numbers. 

1  A  large  site  of  about  14  acres  in  Van  Cortlandt  park,  west  of 
the  lake.  The  relics  occurred  mostly  in  bowl-shaped  fireplaces  two 
to  three  feet  deep  and  wide.  Shells  were  packed  in  these  and  four 
skeletons  were  found  in  them.  Nine  were  buried  elsewhere.  Pot- 
tery, bone  and  stone  articles  v/ere  found.  These  were  discovered 
in  grading  in  1890.  A  shell  heap  was  on  the  topmost  knoll  south- 
east of  the  lake. 

2  Shell  heap  east  of  Fieldston  road  and  north  of  W.  247th  street. 
Another  north  of  same  street  and  west  of  Pascal  avenue. 

3  Shell  heap  on  the  Hudson  north  of  Riverdale  station. 

4  Shell  heap  on  the  Hudson  opposite  W.  240th  street.  Others 
opposite  W.  235th  and  232d  streets. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF  NEW  YORK 


107 


5  Chenoweth's  Cold  spring  site  near  Harlem  river  Vv'ith  horn 
articles  and  pottery.    Cave  shelters  near  on  south  side. 

6  Wooded  knoll  with  graves  northeast  of  Inwood  near  Seaman 
avenue. 

Another  of  these  occurs  near  Dyckman  street,  and  various  shell 
heaps  are  found  on  the  west  side  of  Harlem  river  near  the  former 
site  of  the  Fordham  foot  bridge. 

There  are  shell  heaps  near  Columbia  university,  below  In- 
wood  station,  and  at  the  mouth  of  Spuyten  Duyvil  creek. 
In  the  notes  to  Denton's  New  York,  p.  26,  it  is  said  that 
the  village  of  Warpoes  was  on  Chatham  square  and  that  of 
Lapinikan  at  Greenwich.  Excavations  on  Pearl  street  also  reached 
old  shell  banks.  In  the  Gocde  zroiizv  of  Mana-ha-ta,  p.  39  Mrs 
John  K.  Van  Rensselaer  speaks  of  a  castle  on  a  hill  called  Catie- 
muts  overlooking  a  small  lake  near  Canal  street.  The  neighbor- 
hood was  called  Shell  Point. 

Niagara  county.  This  county  was  once  occupied  by  the  Atti- 
wandaronks  or  Neutral  nation  of  Canada.  Father  de  la  Roche 
d'AlHqn  visited  them  in  1626  and  seems  also  to  have  been  in  New 
York.  He  was  at  Onontisaston  and  was  visited  by  those  of  Oua- 
roronon  li\^ng  a  day's  journey  from  the  Seneca  border. — Le  Clerq,  p. 
268.  There  was  a  town  near  the  Niagara  called  Onguiaahra.  When 
the  Jesuits  visited  them  in  1640  the  New  York  towns  are  referred 
to  again.  On  this  side  of  the  river  (in  Canada)  and  not  on  the 
other,  as  some  map  marks  it,  are  the  greater  number  of  the  towns 
of  the  Neutral  nation.  There  are  three  or  four  beyond,  arranged 
from  east  to  west  toward  the  nation  of  the  Cat  or  the  Erieehro- 
nons." — Jesuit  relations,  1641,  p.  71.  This  accounts  for  European 
relics  toward  Niagara  river.    Afterward  it  became  Seneca  territory. 

1  There  was  a  small  Seneca  village  near  the  mouth  of  Niagara 
river  in  17 18. — Doc.  Hist.  N.  Y.  9:885.  This  was  Oniagara  but 
they  frequented  the  river  much  earlier.    Early  relics  occur. 

2  The  rocky  fort  of  Kienuka  is  on  the  Tuscarora  reservation 
three  and  one  half  miles  from  Lewiston,  on  a  spur  of  the  mountain 
ridge.  "A  burial  ground  and  two  elliptical  mounds  or  barrows 
that  have  a  diameter  of  20  feet  and  an  elevation  of  from  four  to 


Io8  ^       NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

five  feet.  The  sites  of  habitations  are  marked  by  remains  of  pot- 
tery, pipes  and  other  evidences." — Turner.  Hoi.  p.  26.  Schoolcraft 
gives  a  plan  and  description  but  it  may  refer  to  a  mere  rocky  ledge 
with  a  village  site.  Gen.  Lincoln  gave  an  account  of  the  two 
Tuscarora  villages  at  that  place  in  1793.  Land  had  been  cleared 
and  they  found  a  wall  around  it,  the  banks  of  which  w^ere  visible 
at  this  time."  Stone  axes  were  obtained. — Mass.  hist.  5:127.  This 
may  have  been  the  work  examined  by  Mr  Reynolds  on  the  north 
line  of  the  reservation.  Its  area  was  one  and  one  half  acres  and 
there  was  no  wall  on  the  north.  A  recent  monumental  stone  heap 
was  near  it. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  512 

3  A  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  this  fort  were  118  pits. — U.  S.  bur, 
of  eth.  p.  513 

4  Three  ossuaries  half  a  mile  west  of  the  fort,  with  100  skeletons 
and  three  copper  rings  in  one.  This  was  9  feet  in  diameter. — U.  S, 
bur.  of  eth.  p.  513 

5  Near  Tonawanda  creek  and  two  miles  east  of  Hofifman's  sta- 
tion was  a  camp  site. 

6  Several  skeletons  were  exhumed  at  the  Lewiston  end  of  the 
electric  road  in  April  1895.  Pipes  and  arrowheads  were  found. 
Mr  Larkin  mentioned  two  large  burial  mounds  in  this  town. 

7  There  are  traces  of  Indian  graves  on  Goat  island. — French, 
P-  450 

8  A  mound  in  the  town  of  Wilson  contained  human  bones,  and 
was  10  or  12  feet  high  and  100  feet  around.  It  was  three  quarters 
of  a  mile  from  the  lake. — Macauley,  2:113 

9  A  mound,  fort  and  cemetery  were  on  a  ridge  in  Cambria,  eight 
miles  east  of  the  reservation.  Turner  saw  the  mound  opened  in 
1823.  Six  acres  were  occupied,  with  a  wall  in  front  on  the  circular 
verge  of  the  mountain.  In  the  center  was  an  ossuary  four  or 
five  feet  deep  "  filled  with  human  bones,  over  which  were  slabs 
of  sandstone.  Hundreds  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  seem  to  have 
been  thrown  in  promiscuously.  Numerous  barbs  or  arrow  points 
were  found  among  the  bones  and  in  the  vicinity.  .  .  Rude  frag- 
ments of  pottery,  pieces  of  copper  and  iron  instruments  of  rude  work- 
manship have  been  plowed  up  within  the  area;  also  charred  wood. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


corn  and  cobs." — Tttrncr.  Hoi.  p.  27.  Compare  this  with  the  ac- 
count of  Huron  burial  in  Jesuit  relations  and  allied  documents. 
Schoolcraft  and  Squier  quote  this,  the  former  adding  that  the  pit 
was  24  feet  square. 

10  Mr  Reynolds  examined  a  stone  mound  in  1889  on  Mr  Sharp's 
land  a  mile  west  of  Lockport. — U.  S.  bur.  of  eth.  p.  512 

11  Also  a  mound  at  Gasport. 

12  A  circular  mound  was  once  on  the  upper  end  of  Tonawanda 
island.  Bones,  arrowheads  and  beads  were  found. — Turner.  Hoi.  p. 
34.  A  larger  mound  once  15  feet  high  was  opened  by  Squier  in 
1848,  Below  was  a  circle  of  stones  perhaps  10  feet  in  diameter^ 
within  which  were  small  heaps  of  bones  each  comprising  three  or 
four  skeletons.  The  bones  are  of  individuals  of  all  ages  and  had  evi- 
dently been  deposited  after  the  removal  of  the  flesh.  Traces  of 
fire  were  to  be  discovered  upon  the  stones.  The  skulls  had  been 
crushed  by  the  superincumbent  earth."  There  were  bone  and  horn 
articles. — Squier,  p.  97 

13  Open  air  workshop  opposite  Tonawanda  island  at  the  mouth 
of  Tonawanda  creek.  About  an  acre  strewn  with  flint. — Turner. 
Hoi.  p.  34.    Others  occur  on  the  river. 

14  Dr  J^.  L.  Benedict  furnished  the  following  without  notes. 
On  Cayuga  island  south  of  La  Salle  station  Niagara  Falls. 

15  Near  the  railroad  and  river  a  httle  northwest  of  North  Tona- 
wanda. 

A  ring  fort  was  reported  in  the  Pioneer  history  of  the  Holland 
purchase  of  western  New  York  p.  29  at  the  head  of  a  deep  gorge 
a  mile  west  of  Lockport.  On  examination  Mr  Reynolds  thought 
this  natural. 

Oneida  county.  Very  little  of  this  county  was  occupied  at  first 
by  the  Oneidas  whose  homes  were  mostly  in  ]\Iadison  county. 
Some  later  villages  were  in  the  western  part.  North  of  the  Mohawk 
river  are  a  few  small  villages  and  camps  of  earlier  tribes. 

I  There  were  Indian  camps  toward  Oneida  lake  on  Wood  and 
Fish  creeks  and  specially  on  the  ridge  where  the  Royal  blockhouse 
stood.  These  were  early.  In  August  1899,  Dr  Hinsdale  made 
some  explorations  near  Sylvan  Beach  and  found  a  large  workshop, 


no 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


and  a  fishing  hamlet  well  provided  with  flat  sinkers.  An  ordinary 
village  site  had  early  relics.  A  large  site  was  found  on  the  south 
side  of  Fish  creek  near  the  mouth,  with  a  cemetery,  and  he  reports 
another  cemetery. 

2  Graves  with  European  articles  were  found  in  1891  near  the 
shore  of  Oneida  lake.  A  fort  and  burial  place  were  two  miles 
south  of  Oneida  lake  on  Oneida  creek  of  which  the  writer  has 
often  heard.  Schoolcraft  said  that  traces  of  the  fort  still  existed. 
It  was  on  the  farm  of  James  Sterling  a  little  south  of  Oneida  Valley, 
near  the  southeast  angle  of  the  lake.  On  the  east  side  of  the 
creek  skeletons  and  recent  relics  occur.  This  may  have  been  the 
village  at  the  lake  mentioned  in  Belletre's  expedition. 

3  Indians  lived  in  Annsville  quite  recently.  At  the  forks  of 
Fish  creek  hearths  were  exposed  by  the  washing  of  the  banks  and 
large  potsherds  were  found  three  feet  under  ground.  Stone  im- 
plements occur  in  the  town. — Jones,  p.  82.  The  Oneidas  held  their 
annual  fishing  feast  here  in  the  spring,  using  hurdles. — Jones,  p.  71 

4  W.  S.  Valiant  reported  many  camps  and  relics  as  well  as 
burial  places  in  and  about  Rome.  The  finer  relics  do  not  appear, 
as  the  tide  of  early  travel  did  not  set  that  way.  Some  banks  near 
Rome  are  of  doubtful  origin. 

5  Burial  place  of  whites  and  Indians  west  of  Fort  Bull  and  south 
of  the  canal. 

6  Camps  on  Canada,  Mud  and  Whittle's  creeks  and  on  Brandy 
brook  near  Rome.  Small  sites  are  frequent  and  were  explored  by 
Mr  Valiant. 

7  An  early  village  site  on  Steuben  creek,  six  miles  northeast  of 
Holland  Patent,  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  The  sites  in  this 
prehistoric  group  average  about  an  acre  and  were  reported  by 
H.  A.  Pride  of  Holland  Patent. 

8  One  west  of  Steuben  and  north  of  the  creek. 

9  One  at  Trenton  village  four  miles  east  of  Holland  Patent  and 
on  Cincinnatus  creek. 

ID  A  village  east  of  Holland  Patent  and  quite  near  it  on  the  south 
side  of  the  creek. 

1 1  A  village  west  of  South  Trenton. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  III 

12  One  near  Stittville  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek  and  half  way 
between  the  next  and  Holland  Patent. 

13  Two  small  hamlets  w^est  of  the  Nine  IMile  creek  and  near  its 
mouth  in  Marcy.  One  was  quite  near  the  creek,  the  other  farther 
west  and  opposite  the  Oriskany  monument.  There  are  others  in 
this  town  not  definitely  located. 

14  In  enlarging  the  canal  in  Oriskany  in  1849,  more  skele- 
tons were  found  in  logs  hollowed  out  by  burning.  They  had 
medals  and  ornaments.  One  medal  of  George  i  was  dated  in  1731. 
The  others  were  dated  from  1731  to  1735.  In  two  instances  the 
heads  of  three  or  four  skeletons  were  placed  together  and  the  bodies 
radiated  from  these.  There  are  ear  and  nose  ornaments  of  red 
slate  and  some  pipes. — Jones,  p.  829 

15  A  recent  cemetery  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk  opposite 
the  mouth  of  Oriskany  creek.  The  tradition  is  that  the  Indians 
who  fell  at  Oriskany  were  buried  there.  The  relics  j\Ir  Pride  found 
there  however  were  all  early. 

16  On  the  north  bank  of  the  IMohawk,  in  Alarcy  and  half  a  mile 
east  of  Oriskany,  a  spot  on  the  table-land  w^as  called  the  castle.  On 
this  was  a  second  growth  of  timber  in  1796.  Iron  axes  w^ere  found 
there  and  from  20  to  30  deep  caches.  A  low  mound  was  18  inches 
high  and  from  8  to  10  feet  across. — Jones,  p.  244 

17  A  line  of  lodge  sites  extends  all  through  Marcy  to  Deerfield 
on  the  terrace  north  of  the  river.  All  but  one  are  early.  One  is 
midway  and  none  have  pottery.    Articles  rude. 

18  Three  skeletons  were  exhumed  near  Hamilton  college.  The 
middle  one  lay  in  an  opposite  direction  to  the  others  and  had  a 
metallic  cross  on  the  hrt2.s,i.— Jones,  p.  829 

19  Alter  the  revolution  the  Oneidas  left  Oriskany  and  part  came 
to  the  Mile  square  in  Augusta,  which  had  long  before  been  occupied 
by  them. — Jones,  p.  96 

20  Near  Oriskany  creek  on  both  sides  in  Marshall  and  Kirkland 
lived  400  Brotherton  Indians  mostly  near  Deansville. — Jones,  p.  247 

21  Hatch's  mound,  west  of  Rome  and  near  Green's  Corners,  is 
reputedly  of  Indian  origin  but  this  is  more  than  doubtful.  A  small 
mound  and  excavation  near  may  be  artificial. 


XI2  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

22  There  was  a  recent  fort  on  Cranston's  farm  at  Oneida  castle 
east  of  the  creek,  probably  the  one  built  by  Johnson  in  1756.  St 
Peter's  Indian  church  was  there  also  before  the  Oneidas  went  to 
Green  Bay.  The  cemetery  west  of  the  station  was  cut  into  by  the 
West  Shore  railroad. 

23  "At  the  orchard  the  first  Methodist  mission  house  was  built. 
The  orchard  is  an  old  and  very  large  one  situated  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  Vernon.  It  was  set  out  by  the  Indians  long  before  the 
arrival  of  the  first  white  settlers,  it  being  apparently  an  old  orchard 
in  1794."  The  noted  Orchard  party  had  its  name  from  this. — 
Hammond,  p.  114 

24  Dr  Hinsdale  reported  a  large  site  less  than  a  mile  west  of  the 
village  of  North  Bay,  with  stone  relics. 

25  He  found  a  large  straggling  site  near  the  mouth  of  Oneida 
creek,  and  another  large  village  lialf  a  mile  from  the  mouth,  with 
early  articles  of  bone,  clay  and  stone.  Net  sinkers  are  common 
near  the  mouth  of  the  creek. 

Onondaga  county.  This  county  was  the  historic  center  of  the 
powerful  Iroquois  league  and  there  the  great  council  fire  burned, 
though  not  always  in  the  same  place.  For  nearly  or  quite  a  cen- 
tury the  Onondaga  towns  were  on  the  hills  bordering  the  valley  of 
Limestone  creek.  About  1690  or  a  little  earlier  they  shifted  to  the 
east  bank  of  the  Butternut  creek,  a  mile  south  of  Jamesville.  The 
next  half  century  found  them  in  the  Onondaga  valley  east  of  the 
creek,  but  by  1750  nearly  all  were  on  the  west  side.  Their  present 
location  is  quite  recent.  While  part  of  this  nation  seem  to  have 
been  immigrants  but  little  over  three  centuries  since,  it  is  probable 
that  they  united  with  some  of  the  same  family  who  had  preceded 
them,  settling  near  Seneca  river.  Another  group  of  this  family  was 
in  Elbridge  but  may  not  have  united  with  them,  their  natural  as- 
sociations being  farther  west. 

Preceding  the  Onondagas  and  their  kindred,  and  mainly  in  the 
northern  towns,  were  those  visitors  who  left  so  many  interesting 
relics  on  the  Seneca  and  Oneida  rivers  and  the  adjacent  lakes  and 
streams.  Tliese  came  from  many  places,  but  when,  we  can  not 
tell.    In  this  field  the  writer  has  worked  for  many  years  with  the 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


"3 


hearry  aid  of  conscientious  collectors,  and  perhaps  no  part  of  New 
York  has  been  given  more  thorough  and  systematic  study,  though 
a  vast  amount  yet  remains  to  be  done.  Its  navigable  rivers  and 
abundant  fishing  places  drew  many  here  at  an  early  day,  while 
others  found  safety  in  its  hills. 

1  Camps  with  the  usual  early  relics  in  Lysander,  lot  42,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Oswego  river  at  Phoenix.  There  was  also  a 
fishing  village  there  in  1654  at  which  Father  Le  Moyne  stopped. 

2  Two  camps  or  more  on  the  land  of  D.  Porter  and  A.  Haikes, 
lot  71,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Seneca  river.  Early  relics  and  a 
little  pottery.  At  this  rift  the  first  English  military  road  crossed 
the  river. 

3  A  hamlet  on  a  bold  hill  on  A.  Start's  farm,  lot  70  Lysander. 
Arrowheads  and  pottery. 

4  Two  hamlets  on  and  by  the  Adams  farm  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Seneca  river  and  another  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  state  ditch, 
lot  96.  FHnt  arrowheads  and  rude  stone  implements  and  but  little 
pottery. 

5  A  village  on  the  Hickey  farm,  lot  75  with  fine  stone  inplements 
but  no  pottery.  It  is  a  little  back  of  the  river.  Just  northeast  of 
this  on  saryiy  land  are  fireplaces  with  a  few  arrowheads,  drills  and 
coarse  pottery.  A  small  hamlet  lies  farther  west  by  the  Voorhees 
brook  on  lot  74,  and  near  this  a  cache  of  flints  was  found. 

6  The  above  camp  on  sandy  land  is  on  lot  75,  formerly  U.  M. 
Kelly's  land.  Just  below  it  is  a  stone  eelweir  with  three  bays  of 
unequal  length  reaching  up  the  river  as  it  tended  toward  the  north 
shore.  It  was  built  of  field  stone  and  was  about  1200  feet  long. 
It  reaches  the  surface  now  only  in  very  low  water.  Part  of  another 
is  below  the  Jack's  reef  bridge,  and  others  are  found  elsewhere, 
as  the  Onondagas  built  many  within  historic  times. 

7  Two  hamlets  of  considerable  size  on  J.  Adsit's  land,  lot  76 
close  to  the  river  and  on  both  sides  of  a  brook.  They  seem  dis- 
tinct and  have  the  usual  relics  but  no  pottery.  There  are  several 
camps  between  this  and  the  last. 

8  Apparently  a  stockade  town  on  the  hilltop  back  of  what  was 
Charles  Emerick's  house  and  high  above  the  river  road  on  lot  78 


114  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

north  of  the  Seneca  river.  All  the  usual  relics  and  abundant  pot- 
tery but  no  drills  or  scrapers,  which  are  absent  from  all  Iroquois 
forts.  A  fine  spring  on  the  terrace  below.  Shells  of  Unio  com- 
planatiis  abound.    A  bone  fishhook  was  found. 

9  Two  hamlets  and  a  cemetery  on  G.  A.  Bigelow's  land  on  the 
hill  in  the  north  part  of  Baldwinsville.  In  the  hamlets  were  pipes, 
arrowheads  and  celts.  There  were  no  relics  with  the  skeletons 
which  lay  horizontally,  with  the  knees  drawn  up.  There  were 
camps  all  through  the  present  village. 

10  Extensive  hamlet  on  the  south  side  of  Float  bridge,  lot  86 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  river.  A  great  deal  of  pottery  with  other 
relics  but  no  scrapers  or  drills. 

11  A  camp  south  of  the  railroad  bridge  and  east  of  the  river 
on  lot  87  with  early  relics  and  pottery.  On  the  opposite  bank  were 
fireplaces  with  pottery.  There  was  another  small  hamlet  at  the 
Red  rock  rift,  lot  93  half  a  mile  below. 

12  A  circular  earthwork  on  lot  89  of  about  three  acres  is  now 
obliterated.  It  was  about  360  feet  in  diameter  and  the  road  passes 
through  the  center.  Pottery  is  abundant  with  the  usual  Iroquoian 
articles.  It  is  about  three  miles  from  Baldwinsville  and  one  and 
one  half  miles  from  the  river  on  either  side,  but  flat  sinkers  are 
found,  suggesting  a  question  of  use.  Clark  reported  a  ditch  around 
it  four  feet  deep  with  a  bank  on  each  side  of  this,  and  a  gateway. 
A  man  who  cleared  the  land  told  the  writer  that  there  were  merely 
two  broad  depressions.  It  is  on  level  land  and  there  is  a  small 
site  half  a  mile  away. 

13  Two  or  three  hamlets  near  th-e  north  end  of  Cold  Spring 
bridge,  lot  100  on  both  sides  of  the  road  with  abundant  relics  and 
with  pottery  on  the  east  side. 

14  Three  hamlets  on  the  south  shore  of  Cross  lake,  on  lots  31, 
32  and  33  Elbridge.    Stone  relics  but  no  pottery. 

15  Three  hamlets  and  scattered  lodges  on  lot  34  mostly  on  the 
Elliott  farm.  The  central  one  was  long  occupied  and  yielded  many 
fine  relics  but  scarcely  any  pottery. 

t6  There  was  a  camp  on  the  river  just  west  of  Carpenter's  brook 
and  several  east  on  lot  35.    One  hamlet  was  at  the  mouth  of  the 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  II5 

brook  and  two  farther  east  on  the  Bidwell  farm.  The  cemetery 
for  the  latter  place  was  south  of  the  road  with  both  early  and  recent 
relics.  Clark  says,  ''At  Jack's  reef  when  the  whites  first  settled 
this  town  the  Onondagas  had  a  large  settlement  with  an  extensive 
clearing  and  a  valuable  orchard." — Clark,  2 1328.  No  early  travelers 
mention  this. 

17  Northeast  of  these  on  the  Somes  farm,  lot  16  Van  Buren 
is  a  hill  where  relics  are  said  to  have  been  abundant  and  where 
an  old  settler  of  good  judgment  remembered  a  palisade  line.  The 
writer  found  no  traces  of  occupation  on  the  hill  but  there  were 
small  camps  toward  the  river. 

18  Besides  scattered  sites  farther  down  the  Seneca  river  there 
was  a  hamlet  on  lot  4  and  west  of  Dead  creek.  It  was  an  early 
site  but  not  long  occupied. 

fg  Two  hamlets  were  east  of  Dead  creek  on  the  river  bank. 
These  were  on  the  Wright  farm,  lots  4  and  5  and  were  quite  dif- 
ferent in  character,  the  eastern  one  having  rude  relics.  The  west- 
ern one  probably  represented  several  camps. 

20  An  extensive  stockade  was  on  the  Crego  farm,  lot  6  near  the 
south  bank  of  the  river.  The  area  is  about  400  by  500  feet  and  the 
usual  relics  ftre  found,  among  the  rest  the  sharp  barb  of  a  bone 
fishhook  and  a  flat  Unio  bead.  Another  stockade  was  directly 
across  the  river. 

21  Two  hamlets  and  several  camps  were  on  the  river  bank  on 
the  west  line  of  Baldwinsville,  town  lot  7.  One  camp  was  recent. 
Others  occur  at  intervals  along  the  river  as  far  as  the  island.  These 
are  mostly  early. 

22  On  the  south  side  in  Baldwinsville  a  village  and  cemetery  were 
a  little  southeast  of  the  village  cemetery.  Relics  are  found  with 
the  skeletons.  Another  village  was  mostly  on  the  east  side  of 
Syracuse  street.  A  few  lodges  and  graves  were  on  the  west  side. 
All  these  were  on  land  sloping  to  Crooked  brook.  A  few  rods 
southeast  was  a  cemetery  in  sand  loam  out  of  which  the  writer 
saw  20  skeletons  taken  at  one  time.  No  special  order  was  observed 
in  burial  but  the  knees  were  generally  drawn  up.  Under  almost 
every  head  was  a  small  pebble,  the  loam  being  free  of  stones.  In 


Il6  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

laying  pipe  a  few  rods  southeast  of  the  bridge  in  1895  an  extended 
but  small  skeleton  was  found  betw^een  two  layers  of  cobblestones. 
No  articles  were  in  the  grave, 

23  There  was  a  circular  stockade  on  L.  Tallmage's  farm,  lot  13, 
and  one  and  one  half  miles  south  of  Baldwinsville,  south  of  a  small 
stream  and  west  of  the  road  to  Warner.  A  plan  is  given  in  fig. 
75.  It  occupied,  a  low  broad  hill,  commanded  by  a  higher  one 
across  the  stream.  It  had  a  gate  on  the  north  side,  and  the 
diameter  was  about  300  feet.   The  postholes  were  a  step  apart. 

24  A  small  hamlet  was  on  Mrs  C.  Lamerson's  farm,  lot  41. 
Arrowheads,  etc.  are  found. 

25  On  lot  17  there  are  lodge  sites  near  the  river. 

26  There  are  also  camps  on  the  farms  of  Messrs  Spore  and  Pel- 
ton  on  lot  3  near  the  river. 

27  Others  occur  on  H.  B.  Odell's  farm  on  lot  2  and  all  along 
the  valley  of  Dead  creek  implements  are  found. 

28  There  are  lodges  near  the  river  on  Lester's  and  Tallmage's 
farms,  lot  14. 

29  In  E.  L.  Tallmage's  woods,  lot  21  were  two  large  stone  heaps 
covering  human  bones. 

30  Two  mounds  and  two  or  more  hamlets  were  near  the  Onon- 
daga outlet  in  Geddes.  One  hamlet  now  lies  east  of  the  present 
outlet.  One  is  on  the  top  of  the  hill  west  of  this  and  on  the  south 
side  of  the  road.  Camps  lie  westw^ard  of  this  along  the  bluff. 
The  relics  are  all  early.  One  burial  mound  in  the  woods  at  Long 
Branch  was  12  feet  long  and  3  feet  high  when  examined  by  the 
writer,  but  w^as  once  larger.  Six  skeletons  and  some  early  relics 
w^ere  afterward  taken  out.  This  mound  was  oblong  but  the  other 
was  circular  and  much  farther  southeast  at  the  base  of  the  sandy 
blufif.  In  it  were  skeletons  and  stone  relics.  Fig.  89  shows  the 
position  of  these  mounds  west  of  the  outlet. 

31  There  w^ere  several  camps  about  Pleasant  beach  near  the  west 
shore  of  Onondaga  lake,  yielding  fine  relics  and  extending  from 
the  outlet  nearly  to  Nine  Mile  creek.  No  Iroquois  traces  are  found 
on  the  west  side  of  Onondaga  lake  and  but  few  on  the  east. 

32  The  Kaneenda  site  of  1700  is  the  only  recent  site  near  Onon- 
daga lake  except  about  the  old  French  fort  south  of  Liverpool. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


117 


Kaneenda  was  on  the  creek  and  south  of  the  lake,  within  the  city 
limits.  An  early  site  may  be  placed  with  this  on  an  elevated  spot 
in  the  marsh  west  of  the  creek  where  Dr  Hinsdale  has  discovered 
much  of  interest.  There  is  also  a  small  early  site  with  rude  imple- 
ments, in  the  third  ward  of  Syracuse  near  the  creek.  Besides  these 
there  was  a  recent  village  as  well  as  a  cemetery  not  far  from  the 
present  high  school. 

33  There  were  early  and  late  camps  at  Brewerton  on  both  sides 
of  the  river  and  many  stone  plummets  and  bone  harpoons  are 
found.  Burial  places  are  also  found  on  both  sides,  the  one  on  the 
south  side  being  in  the  present  cemetery.  Not  far  south  some 
hamlets  were  mentioned  by  early  missionaries. 

34  There  were  small  camps  on  lots  32  and  33,  Cicero  about  South 
Bay  on  Oneida  lake,  and  another  farther  east  on  the  Eastwood 
farm  lot  46. 

35  A  Httle  west  of  Bridgeport  was  a  hamlet  on  lot  73. 

36  Another  was  on  the  lake  shore,  lot  47  and  east  of  the  present 
cemetery,  and  another  on  the  same  lot  near  Chittenango  creek. 

It  may  be  added  that  there  are  other  small  camps,  as  on  the 
islands  in  Cicero  swamp  and  on  Frenchman's  and  Dunham's  islands 
in  Oneida  ^ake. 

37  There  was  a  cemetery  with  some  lodge  sites  on  the  Childs 
farm_,  lot  22,  Clay.  Earthen  vessels  were  found  with  the  skeletons 
near  the  Seneca  river. 

38  Cemetery  and  hamlet  on  lot  16,  Clay  east  of  Schroeppel's 
bridge  on  a  bluff  south  of  the  river.  Early  and  fine  reHcs.  Camps 
also  on  the  north  side. 

39  Hamlet  on  the  Walters  farm,  lot  23  and  north  side  of  the 
road.    Many  fireplaces  but  rude  articles. 

40  Another  on  lot  74  has  afforded  fine  relics.  There  are  other 
scattered  camps  of  little  note. 

41  South  of  the  canal  in  Elbridge  was  a  group  of  notable  earth- 
works now  obliterated,  which  seem  to  belong  to  the  Cayuga  group. 
In  early  notes  these  are  referred  to  Camillus  but  the  division  of 
the  town  placed  all  in  the  present  town  of  Elbridge.  The  one  on 
Fort  hill,  lot  70,  Elbridge  was  first  mentioned  by  Rev.  Thomas 


Il8  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

Robbins  in  1802,  in  his  recently  printed  journal.  He  described 
it.  as  ''nearly  four  square,  the  corners  a  little  rounded,  facing 
very  nearly  the  cardinal  points.  It  is  a  little  more  than  20  rods 
from  north  to  south  and  from  east  to  west  a  little  less."  He  differs 
from  others  in  describing  two  gates  on  the  west  side  with  one  on 
the  east,  but  was  probably  correct.  He  said,  "  On  the  west  side 
are  evident  marks  of  violence,  places  in  the  wall  being  thrown 
down  into  the  ditch." 

De  Witt  Clinton  described  it  as  "  elliptical  in  shape  "  and  said 
that  it  covered  three  acres. — Sqider,  p.  32.  Mr  Clark  made  it  a 
square  of  four  and  one  half  acres.  He  adds  that  "  on  the  south 
side  were  numerous  holes  about  2  feet  deep  and  6  feet  apart  as 
if  an  intrenchment  or  circumvallation  had  been  commenced  and 
not  finished."  In  his  plan  these  appear  in  a  straight  line.  They 
were  probably  caches. — Clark,  2:326.  The  writer  examined  the 
spot  with  Mr  Hunter,  who  had  owned  the  place  since  1840,  and 
part  of  the  results  appear  in  fi^.  64.  The  work  was  on  a  broad 
elliptic  hill  and  extended  some  distance  down  the  sides.  The  long 
axis  was  from  north  to  south  and  the  area  about  two  and  one  half 
acres.  Relics  much  as  usual  with  fresh  water  shells.  It  was  an 
earthwork. 

There  proves  to  be  an  account  of  the  forts  on  lots  70  and  81, 
Elbridge,  in  a  journal  kept  by  Lieut.  Col.  William  Stevens,  who 
visited  them  in  October  1791.  In  Onondaga's  centennial,  p.  685, 
these  are  incorrectly  located  on  lot  84.  The  description  is  good, 
but  has  few  details  regarding  the  smaller  work.  The  timber  seemed 
a  second  growth  in  and  around  the  fort.  The  work  on  lot  70  was 
elliptic,  the  longest  diameter  being  north  and  south,  inclosing  about 
two  and  three  fourths  acres.  There  was  a  gate  in  the  east  as  well  as 
the  west  bank.  "  The  butments  on  each  side  are  plain  to  be  seen." 
In  both  cases  the  trees  on  the  wall  were  larger  than  the  others,  but 
this  was  due  to  the  more  rapid  growth  in  made  soil. 

42  The  writer  also  gives  his  own  plan  of  the  small  fort  on  lot 
81,  half  a  mile  southeast  of  the  last,  and  a  mile  west  of  Elbridge 
village  on  the  old  Squire  Munro  farm.    Fig.  62  represents  this. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OK  NEW  YORK  II9 

Mr  Clinton  described  this  as  half  as  large  as  the  last  and  of  the 
same  form.    Unto  shells  are  also  found  here. — Sqiiier,  p.  32 

Mr  Clark  said  the  bank  and  ditch  could  easily  be  traced  in  1793 
and  that  the  area  was  one  and  one  half  acres.  It  seems  less  than 
this.  He  said  there  was  a  gateway  on  the  west  side  about  12  feet 
wide.  His  figure  makes  this  wall  slightly  convex  and  all  the  others 
straight. — Clark,  2\2,2^.  There  is  an  abrupt  descent  on  the  west 
side  into  a  deep  ravine  and  on  the  south  there  is  a  quick  slope  to 
the  Munro  house.    The  east  and  north  walls  were  on  level  land. 

43  INIr  Clark  also  described  a  fort  on  lot  73  a  little  east  of  El- 
bridge  village.  "  On  the  site  of  Mr  Caleb  Brown's  house  and 
garden,  including  a  portion  of  the  highway,  was  an  ancient  circular 
fort,  containing  a  little  over  an  acre  of  ground,  within  which  were 
evidences  of  a  blacksmith  shop,"  and  many  common  relics. — Clark, 
2:327.    All  Elbridge  forts,  however,  were  prehistoric. 

44  The  same  writer  says,  "  On  lot  84,  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Caleb  Brown,  esq.,  (1849)  about  40  rods  south  of  the  road  was 
a  circular  fort  which  covered  over  three  acres  of  ground."  There 
was  a  wide  gate  on  the  west  and  a  smaller  one  on  the  northeast 
side.  A  cache  was  mistaken  for  a  well  and  near  "  the  western 
gateway  \^^ere  found  several  pieces  of  timber,  having  the  marks  of 
iron  tools  upon  them."  Pottery  and  shells  were  abundant.  Mr 
Clark's  plan  appears  in  fig.  65. 

45  He  also  described  an  open  village  on  lot  83  south  of  Elbridge 
village  where  he  said  hundreds  of  grooved  stone  axes  had  been 
found,  and  numerous  arrowheads  as  well  as  a  stone  for  sharpening 
tools. — Clark,  2:324.  Grooved  axes  are  so  rare  in  New  York  that 
the  writer  made  special  inquiries  and  found  that  this  was  an  error. 
None  are  known  there. 

46  Two  or  three  camps  occur  on  lot  62,  Salina  near  the  north- 
east angle  of  Onondaga  lake  and  scattered  lodges  toward  the  out- 
let. The  spot  shows  no  permanent  occupation  and  relics  vary 
greatly  in  character. 

47  Farther  south  there  are  camps  and  hamlets  toward  the  north 
line  of  Liverpool  and  east  of  the  lake  and  on  both  sides  of  the 


120 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Stream  on  L.  Keith's  farm.  Relics  of  an  early  character  occur  at 
intervals  all  along  this  shore. 

48  The  French  fort,  and  mission  of  1656  were  on  lot  106  north 
of  the  railroad  bridge  in  Salina.  Early  and  recent  relics  are  found 
there.  The  plan  of  the  fort  in  Clark's  Onondaga,  however,  is  of 
that  erected  by  Frontenac  in  1696.  The  plan  was  made  by  Mr 
Geddes  in  1797.  Clark  erroneously  said  that  some  of  the  pickets 
remained  in  1794,  adding  that  the  work  embraced  half  an  acre. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Adams  said  that  traces  of  this  fort  could  still  be  seen 
in  1834,  and  that  Dr  Holbrook,  a  settler  of  1795,  told  him  that  there 
was  a  picket  of  four  acres,  with  a  fort  of  one,  having  a  blockhouse 
in  the  northeast  corner,  and  a  bastion  at  one  angle.  It  is  probable 
all  these  accounts  are  somewhat  confused  with  the  fort  of  1756, 
built  at  Onondaga  Valley  by  Sir  WilHam  Johnson.  Frontenac's 
fort  seems  to  have  been  built  on  the  old  mission  site.  Around  the 
latter  some  Onondagas  lived. 

49  Early  relics  have  been  found  all  along  the  line  of  salt  vats  on 
the  bluff.  Clark  reported  a  large  cemetery  at  Green  point  but 
gave  no  details.    It  was  at  the  base  of  the  bluf¥. 

50  North  of  the  marsh  and  half  a  mile  east  of  the  lake  is  a 
recent  camp  or  hamlet. 

51  There  were  no  villages  in  Skaneateles  but  small  camps  and 
occasional  relics  appear,  some  being  of  early  types.  One  camp 
was  on  the  farm  of  Henry  Moses,  lot  20. 

52  Relics  were  frequent  on  R.  Curtis's  farm,  lot  22. 

53  There  was  quite  a  camp  on  the  east  side  of  a  stream  and 
south  of  the  direct  road  to  Marcellus  on  lot  29.  Early  relics.  A 
few  articles  have  been  found  near  Skaneateles  village  and  Mandana. 

54  20  skeletons  were  taken  out  of  a  gravel  bed  in  1878  on  lot 
42,  De  Witt  now  East  Syracuse.    Early  relics  were  found. 

55  The  Deep  Spring  of  early  note  is  on  the  courity  line  east  of 
Fayetteville.  Tradition  places  a  stockade  there  but  there  are  no 
traces  of  permanent  occupation.  Arrowheads  and  recent  relics 
were  once  frequent. 

56  A  hamlet  on  the  Mason  farm,  lot  68  Spafford  was  about  a 
mile  east  of  Five  Mile  point  on  Skaneateles  lake.  The  relics  there 
and  near  by  are  early. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


T2I 


57  A  few  years  since  some  graves  were  opened  on  lot  72,  Otisco 
which  contained  several  long  stone  tubes.  This  was  near  Amber 
east  of  Otisco  lake,  and  several  caches  of  flint  pieces  have  been 
found  in  that  vicinity.  Arrowheads  occur  all  along  Nine  Mile  creek 
to  Onondaga  lake. 

58  A  little  north  of  Onondaga  Hill  village  there  was  a  large 
cemetery  with  hundreds  of  graves. — Clark,  2:136 

59  Half  a  mile  south  of  Onondaga  Valley  village,  on  Webster's 
mile  square  and  on  the  first  terrace  west  of  Onondaga  creek,  was 
the  stockade  built  for  the  Onondagas  by  Sir  William  Johnson  in 
1756.  It  was  150  feet  square  with  blockhouses  on  two  corners. 
It  was  burned  in  1779  but  traces  were  found  by  the  first  settlers. 
The  stone  graded  way  to  the  creek  remains. 

60  A  village  was  burned  a  mile  farther  south  and  another  beyond 
this. 

61  There  are  several  burial  places  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek, 
where  the  Onondagas  lived  from  about  1720  to  1750.  The  relics 
are  mostly  recent  of  course. 

62  Many  early  articles  occur  near  the  old  arsenal  on  the  east 
side  of  the  valley,  lot  121  Onondaga. 

63  A  sn#all  site  on  the  Henderson  farm,  lot  161.  This  was  an 
early  hamlet  having  pottery  and  arrowheads.  Lodges  were  farther 
south. 

64  Council  house  and  village  on  the  present  reservation.  Some 
relics  appear  along  Onondaga  creek  and  in  South  Onondaga  but 
no  villages. 

65  Near  the  east  line  of  the  reservation  and  on  lot  13,  La  Fayette 
was  a  recent  village  with  an  orchard.  This  was  visited  by  John 
Bartram  in  1743  when  it  had  10  lodges.  The  graves  were  very 
regularly  arranged. — Clark,  2:270 

66  There  was  a  cemetery  west  of  Butternut  creek  and  about  a 
mile  south  of  Jamesville  in  the  same  town.    Recent  relics. 

67  The  stockade  burned  at  Frontenac's  invasion  was  on  the  Wat- 
kins  farm  a  mile  south  of  Jamesville  and  east  of  the  reservoir. 
This  was  on  lot  3,  La  Fayette,  and  the  change  in  the  town  has 
occasioned  much  confusion.    Squier  quoted  an  account  from  the 


122 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Nezv  York  magazine  for  1792  and  was  led  to  place  it  in  Cayuga 
county.  It  has  been  described  as  two  places,  one  in  Pompey 
and  the  other  in  La  Fayette.  According  to  the  French  it  was  a 
triple  stockade  built  under  English  supervision.  Clark's  plan 
which  appears  in  fig.  63  indicates  an  earthwork,  almost  rectangular 
surrounded  by  an  elliptic  double  stockade  intersected  by  a  cross 
line  at  the  short  axis.  At  the  white  settlement  the  lines  were 
distinct.  At  the  northwest  corner  was  a  bastion  and  there  were 
several  heaps  of  refuse.  A  curving  ditch  40  rods  north  was  a  puz- 
zling feature.  There  were  caches  and  abundant  recent  rehcs. 
Frontenac  described  the  fort  as  large  and  strong.  The  town  ap- 
pears on  Romer's  map  of  1700  on  the  east  side  of  Kiechioiahte 
creek. 

68  A  recent  site  on  the  Gates  farm,  lot  5  Pompey  is  known  as 
Bloody  hill.  It  is  two  and  one  half  miles  southeast  of  Jamesville, 
and  is  largely  a  cemetery. 

69  A  large  early  village  on  a  hill  on  J.  Christopher's  farm,  lot  6, 
a  mile  east  by  south  of  the  last.    Iroquois  rehcs. 

70  A  smaller  early  village  on  the  Reed  farm  half  a  mile  north- 
west of  Watervale  on  lot  19. 

71  Recent  and  early  cemeteries  on  the  Sedgwick  farm,  lot  2/, 
two  miles  northwesterly  from  Pompey  Hill.    Mostly  recent  relics. 

72  Recent  cemeteries  on  lots  28  and  29  a  mile  west  of  Water- 
vale. 

73  Cemeteries  on  Luke  Fitch's  farm  near  the  road  to  Watervale 
and  on  adjoining  land  on  lot  19.  There  was  also  a  recent  village 
site  here  a  little  farther  north.  This  seems  the  village  mentioned 
by  Greenhalgh  in  1677. 

74  From  a  recent  site  on  the  Hibbard  farm,  lot  6  great  quanti- 
ties of  iron  and  other  articles  were  taken.  Circular  elevations  sup- 
posed to  be  for  lodges  were  reported  regularly  arranged  in  rows. 
Clark  says  also  that  "  On  the  late  Dr  Western's  farm  could  be 
distinctly  traced  the  remains  of  a  small  fortification  with  a  burying 
place.  .  .  Not  far  from  this  last,  on  the  farm  of  the  late  John 
Clapp  at  an  early  day  were  plainly  traceable  the  lines  of  an  earthen 
fortification."    All  relics  were  recent. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


123 


75  Indian  hill  is  on  lot  9  north  of  the  road  and  was  described 
by  Clark  as  the  farm  of  Isaac  P.  Jobs.  The  French  who  came 
there  in  1654  and  in  following  years  speak  of  the  palisade  and  gates. 
In  1677  Greenhalgh  said  it  had  no  defence.  Clark  said  that  early 
settlers  remembered  distinctly  an  earthwork  there  with  walls  four 
or  five  feet  high,  which  had  one  gateway  and  was  circular  with  a 
diameter  of  from  300  to  350  feet.  The  writer  traced  the  general 
site  under  favorable  circumstances  and  made  the  village  an  ellipse 
about  1050  feet  long  by  450  feet  wide.  It  is  two  miles  south  of 
Manlius  village  occupying  the  full  width  of  the  hill.  The  large 
cemetery  is  farther  north  and  on  the  edge  of  the  east  ravine. 
Recent  relics.  There  are  many  memorials  of  the  French  missions 
and  a  boulder  remains  on  which  the  Onondagas  sharpened  thei*- 
implements. 

76  Clinton  said  that  there  was  a  cemetery  of  three  or  four  acres 
a  mile  eastward.    This  was  on  the  Scoville  farm,  lot  11. 

77  Indian  fort  is  in  Pompey,  on  lot  23,  not  lot  33  as  usually 
stated.  A  bank  and  ditch  crossed  it,  running  in  a  southeast  line 
according  to  Clark,  but  really  southwest.  This  was  300  feet  long 
and  there  were  lodges  on  both  sides.  It  has  always  been  called 
a  recent  sflte  but  the  writer  found  no  evidence  of  this  fact  and  defers 
to  others.    The  large  grooved  boulder  has  been  removed. 

78  There  was  a  cemetery  near  Hill's,  lot  33.  South  of  this,  but 
in  }\Iadison  county,  was  the  stockade  already  described,  but  which 
was  an  Onondaga  town. 

79  A  stockade  was  on  the  Indian  knolls,  on  the  Lawrence  farm, 
lot  68^  a  mile  south  of  Pompey  Center,  east  of  the  creek.  In- 
dian and  European  articles  are  found  but  no  French.  It  was  re- 
ported at  an  early  day  as  an  oblong  stockade  of  two  acres.  It  is 
somewhat  triangular  as  represented  in  fig.  77  and  is  about  675 
feet  long  with  a  width  of  360  at  the  broad  end  to  the  south.  No 
council  wampum  appears  and  but  few  shell  beads.  It  may  be  dated 
about  1640. 

80  East  of  this  and  of  the  road  is  Indian  spring  on  a  small  stream. 
On  either  side  of  this  stream  were  the  two  grooved  boulders  now 


124 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


in  the  state  collection.  Farther  east  on  the  hillside  was  a  scattered 
early  site  with  graves. 

81  Mr  Clark  mentioned  the  Sheldon  site  on  lot  69  but  only- 
said  it  resembled  other  forts.  It  occupies  the  most  commanding 
situation  of  any  in  the  county,  and  is  on  a  high  and  steep  blufif 
south  of  the  Hollow  road  and  of  a  stream  flowing  into  East  Lime- 
stone creek.  The  blufif  is  nearly  or  quite  300  feet  high,  precipitous 
on  the  north  side  with  an  abrupt  slope  on  the  east  and  south. 
There  is  a  depression  on  the  west.  The  summit  is  a  plateau  of 
about  450  feet  from  north  to  south  with  a  width  of  350  feet 
at  the  north  end  and  of  230  feet  at  the  south.  It  was  occupied 
for  some  years  and  recent  articles  are  found.  There  is  higher  land 
beyond  the  western  depression.  The  probable  date  is  about  1630. 
Fig.  87  shows  this  site,  the  town  covering  the  whole  plateau. 

82  A  maile  south  of  Delphi  was  a  stockade  between  two  ravines 
on  H.  Chase's  land,  lot  99  with  a  cemetery  on  the  south  just  over 
the  Fabius  line.  Clark  located  it  on  lot  100  which  it  almost  reaches. 
His  plan  is  too  large  and  broad;  a  better  one  is  given  in  fig.  74. 
Most  of  the  fort  is  now  obliterated,  but  it  was  long  and  narrow, 
about  250  by  750  feet.  Most  of  the  lodges  were  near  the  north 
end.  The  two  grooved  boulders  in  the  southeast  corner  have 
been  removed.  Postholes  yet  remain  in  a  shallow  trench,  averag- 
ing about  two  feet  from  center  to  center,  half  the  distance  stated 
by  Clark.  He  said  that  bodies  were  buried  here  "  one  row  with 
their  heads  to  the  west  and  the  next  row  with  their  heads  to  the 
east."  Another  odd  statement  of  early  settlers  was  that  "  the  pali- 
sades were  set  in  the  bottom  of  a  ditch  which  was  in  some  places 
6  feet  deep."    Recent  articles  are  found. 

83  On  the  south  line  of  Pompey,  lot  98,  extending  into  lot 
8,  Fabius  was  a  circular  stockade  on  a  hill  of  which  fig.  76  is  a  plan. 
Nearly  a  quarter  of  the  fort  is  still  in  woodland  and  it  had  a 
diameter  of  about  225  feet.  Some  European  articles  are  found 
but  it  was  an  early  village  located  two  and  one  half  miles  south- 
west of  Delphi. 

84  About  a  mile  northwest  of  the  last,  on  lot  97,  west  of  Car- 
penter's pond  was  a  cemetery  with  brass  kettles. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  1 25 

Many  small  sites  have  been  omitted,  others  are  not  distinctly 
known  at  present.  Clinton  said  there  were  80  cemeteries  in  Pom- 
pey.  Clark  was  much  more  moderate  saying,  These  places  of 
defence  and  burial  were  very  numerous  in  the  township  of  Pompey. 
There  are  not  less  than  15  which  have  been  pointed  out  to  us  and 
which  we  have  visited.  They  are  scattered  through  several  of  the 
neighboring  towns."  Nearly  all  of  these  are  of  the  historic  period, 
Pompey  being  the  early  home  of  the  Onondagas  till  after  1700. 
Most  of  the  sites  in  this  county  were  described  by  the  writer  in  Onon- 
daga's centennial. 

Ontario  county.  When  first  known  the  Senecas  lived  entirely 
in  what  is  now  known  as  Ontario  county  and  in  a  small  part  of 
Monroe  county,  occupying  several  villages  and  having  two  con- 
spicuous divisions.  Tradition  points  to  Yates  county  for  their 
origin  and  it  is  probable  that  forts  in  that  direction  may  have  been 
occupied  by  part  of  the  nation. 

One  of  the  most  important  local  maps  yet  issued  is  that  prepared 
by  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark,  whose  painstaking  w^ork  is  well  known.  It 
will  be  found  in  the  Ea7'ly  chapters  of  Seneca  history,  by  Rev.  Charles 
Hawley,  D.  D.  It  gives  the  Seneca  castles  and  mission  sites  from 
1650  to  1750,  and  may  be  briefly  summarized.  In  Mendon  are 
placed  Sonnontouan  of  1669,  and  southwest  of  this  Totiacton  of 
1687,  both  near  the  west  line  of  the  town.  In  Avon  is  Duy-do-o-sot 
on  the  east  line,  and  Gah-nyuh-sas  on  the  south.  Gandachioragou 
is  at  Lima,  and  two  villages  appear  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
town.  Another  is  toward  the  south  line.  Two  contiguous  villages 
are  near  the  north  line  of  Livonia.  The  village  in  West  Bloomfield 
is  southwest  of  the  present  village,  and  in  thus  locating  it  at  first 
the  writer  followed  Clark.  South  of  Victor  village  is  Gandagaro 
of  1687,  and  just  west  of  it  the  small  fort  of  the  same  year.  Gan- 
dougarae  of  1657  is  on  the  north  line  of  East  Bloomfield,  and 
another  village  is  in  the  center  of  the  town.  Honeoye  of  1779 
is  at  the  foot  of  that  lake,  and  in  the  north  part  of  Bristol  are  the 
burning  springs  visited  by  La  Salle  in  1669.  Kanandaigua  of  1779 
is  southwest  of  the  present  village.  Another  is  northeast  of  this, 
another  on  the  west  line  of  the  town,  and  a  fourth  near  the  north 
line.     Onahee  of  1700  is  near  the  west  line  of  Hopewell,  with 


m 


126  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

another  village  a  little  farther  north.  West  of  Geneva  is  the  Kana- 
desaga  of  1779,  with  two  villages  northwest  of  this.  Ganechstage 
of  1720  is  south  of  Kanadesaga,  and  to  the  southwest  of  this  is 
the  Ganechstage  of  1760.  Gothseunquean  of  1779  is  on  the  west 
bank  of  Seneca  lake. 

1  Irregular  work  on  Boughton  hill  a  mile  south  of  the  village 
of  Victor,  which  was  destroyed  in  1687  by  De  Nonville.  The  small 
fort  of  that  year  was  on  Fort  hill  over  a  mile  west.  Squier's  plan 
is  given  in  fig.  78,  showing  a  work  nearly  1500  feet  long  with 
an  area  of  20  acres.  This  was  Canagora,  the  St  Jacques  of  the 
missionaries.  Greenhalgh  visited  it  in  1677  and  said  it  was  much 
like  Onondaga.  The  village  site  is  on  R.  B.  Moore's  farm,  and 
there  is  a  cemetery  less  than  a  mile  south  of  this  on  the  farm  of 
George  Ketchum,  which  has  European  articles.  Turner  also  men- 
tions articles  at  Victor  Flats. 

2  Fort  hill  a  mile  west  of  Boughton  accurately  corresponds  with 
De  Nonville's  account  of  the  picket  fort  at  the  top  of  a  little 
mountain  scarped  on  all  sides." 

3  Canaenda  was  also  called  Gandougarae  or  St  Michael  and 
was  a  village  of  adopted  Hurons.  Hon.  George  S.  Conover  said 
that  it  is  usually  located  in  East  Bloomfield,  three  and  one  half 
miles  from  Boughton  hill  near  Mud  creek,  but  thought  it  needed 
farther  investigation.  He  thought  the  village  was  moved  into  the 
town  of  Seneca  after  1687  and  placed  on  Burrell  creek  about  two 
miles  southeast  of  White  springs.  W.  L.  Hildburgh  had  European 
relics  from  the  former  place.  Greenhalgh  placed  Canaenda  four 
miles  south  of  Boughton  hill. 

4  There  was  a  burial  place  on  lot  98,  Manchester. 

5  Rev.  J.  W.  Sanborn  explored  a  recent  burial  mound  at  Clifton 
Springs  in  1889. 

Irving  W.  Coates  reports  an  early  village  site  just  south  of  CUf- 
ton  Springs,  nearly  a  mile  south  of  the  Canandaigua  outlet.  It 
occupied  a  little  over  two  acres,  with  fireplaces  very  numerous  and 
close  together.  It  seems  to  have  been  long  inhabited  and  was  of 
early  date.  There  are  fragments  of  decorated  pottery,  fine  celts 
and  arrowheads.  Articles  of  bone  have  been  found,  but  none  of 
shell. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


127 


There  is  an  early  village  reported  by  ^Lr  Coates,  which  is  one 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  the  one  at  Clifton  Springs.  The  relics  are 
similar,  excepting  that  no  bone  articles  have  been  found.  It  was  a 
small  village,  but  the  few  fireplaces  are  large  and  deep.  The  site  is 
a  mile  south  of  the  Canandaigua  outlet,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west 
of  Fall  brook. 

6  On  his  map  of  the  Seneca  country  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  placed  an 
Indian  village  almost  in  the  center  of  the  town  of  East  Bloomfield. 
Mr  Hildburgh  reported  a  cemetery  there.  A  village  site  and  ceme- 
tery are  on  Mud  creek,  east  northeast  of  East  Bloomfield  village, 
with  European  articles.  A  similar  site  a  mile  west  of  this,  is  near 
the  bank  of  a  small  creek. 

7  Gen.  Clark  placed  another  village  near  the  north  line  of  the 
town  of  Canandaigua. 

8  He  also  locates  another  just  south  of  the  village  of  W est  Bloom- 
field. This  was  east  of  Honeoye  creek  and  had  two  cemeteries 
early  and  recent.  Both  long  and  discoid  shell  beads  were  found. 
This  may  be  the  one  reported  a  little  west  of  West  Bloomfield, 
which  should  be  placed  farther  north  on  the  map.  It  is  on  the  road 
from  West  Bloomfield  to  Lima,  and  the  cemetery  is  on  the  east 
bank  of  Homeoye  creek.    The  village  was  on  a  steep  hillside. 

9  N.  W.  Randall  reported  a  village  eight  miles  south  of 
Victor  and  as  much  westerly  from  Canandaigua,  a  little  east  of  'Mud 
creek.  It  seems  the  site  placed  by  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  near  the  town 
line.  The  village  was  recent  but  there  was  a  prehistoric  cemetery 
half  a  mile  away.  Clark  located  the  Gandougarae  of  1657  near  the 
northeast  corner  of  East  Bloomfield.  This  seems  the  village  men- 
tioned by  Turner  with  European  relics.  There  are  several  ceme- 
teries with  early  relics  in  the  vicinity. 

ID  A  small  cemetery  was  three  miles  south  of  Canandaigua, 
west  of  the  lake. 

II  Honeoye,  at  the  foot  of  Honeoye  lake  half  a  mile  east  of  the 
outlet  and  south  of  IMill  creek,  was  burned  in  1779. — Siilliz'aii,  p. 
130.  There  were  recent  articles  on  Phelps's  flat  near  the  old  Indian 
castle  at  the  foot  of  the  lake. — Turner.  P.  &  G.  p.  199,  203.  Clark 
placed  the  village  on  his  map  west  of  the  outlet.  The  name  of 
Honeoye  may  have  come  from  Onaghee. 


128  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

12  Randall  reported  a  small  cemetery  three  miles  west  of  Canan- 
daigua  on  a  flattened  ridge. 

13  Macauley  quoted  a  reference  to  three  old  forts  near  Canan- 
daigua. — Macauley,  2:113.  A  mile  east  of  Canandaigua  was  an 
oval  work  on  a  hillside  overlooking  the  lake,  with  one  gateway  and 
half  the  wall  remaining.  The  turnpike  road  from  Canandaigua  to 
Geneva  passed  through  it.  An  early  cemetery  also. — Squier,  p.  55, 
pi.  6,  no.  2.  This  appears  in  fig.  66.  Schoolcraft  placed  it  on  Fort 
hill  a  mile  north  of  Canandaigua  and  1000  feet  around. — School- 
craft. Report,  p.  109.  Judge  Porter  mentioned  another  which  Squier 
could  not  find.  Mr  Hildburgh  located  a  village  and  cemetery  on 
Fort  hill  half  a  mile  west  of  Canandaigua,  also  a  village  or  camp 
at  the  north  end  of  the  lake  near  the  outlet  and  camps  along  that 
stream.  There  was  an  early  site  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  a  little 
south  of  this.  On  the  west  shore,  just  south  of  Canandaigua,  was 
another  early  site  with  caches.  Graves  have  been  found  near  the 
court  house  and  a  cemetery  just  west  of  the  village. 

14  In  the  valley  of  Mud  creek  at  Bristol  were  many  early  and 
recent  camps. 

15  A  large  recent  village  in  Bristol  was  reported  by  Mr  Randall. 
No  cemetery  was  found.    It  was  half  a  mile  south  of  no.  12. 

16  Nun-da-wa-o-no  was  the  name  of  their  oldest  (Seneca)  vil- 
lage, situated  on  a  hill  at  the  head  of  Canandaigua  lake  near  Naples, 
where  according  to  the  Seneca  fable  they  sprang  out  of  the  ground." 
— Morgan,  p.  51.  Schoolcraft  called  this  Fort  hill  but  nothing 
definite  can  be  learned  of  remains  there  and  the  fort  seems  mythic, 
probably  referring  to  the  one  east  of  the  lake.  ReUcs  are  likely  to 
occur. 

17  A  curious  grave  of  burned  clay  was  opened  on  the  east  side  of 
Canandaigua  lake  in  July  1893.  It  was  four  miles  south  of  Canan- 
daigua and  half  a  mile  east  of  Gage's  landing.  Many  early  relics 
were  found  in  the  vicinity. 

18  Onaghee  was  several  times  removed.  Mr  Conover  said  it 
was  at  one  time  on  Darwin  McClure's  farm,  lot  20  Hopewell,  three 
miles  southeast  of  Canandaigua,  half  a  mile  north  of  the  turnpike. 
A  recent  cemetery  is  not  far  away,  and  modern  relics  abound. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  1 29 

19  Five  miles  northwest  of  Geneva  was  a  stockade  on  Fort  hill. 
This  was  not  far  from  a  hill  on  which  was  an  earthwork.  It  was  a 
long  parallelogram  through  which  the  road  ran,  on  one  side  of 
which  the  post  holes  remained.  There  were  caches  and  early 
relics. — Squier,  p.  87,  88,  pi.  13,  no.  2.    His  plan  is  given  in  fig.  68. 

20  The  Seneca  castle  of  Ganundesaga  was  burned  in  1779.  The 
fort  was  built  by  Sir  William  Johnson  and  had  modern  features. 
The  site  and  cemetery  are  carefully  preserved  one  and  one  half  miles 
northwest  of  Geneva.  Squier's  plan  is  given  in  fig.  69.  Mr  Con- 
over  thought  the  people  of  Canagora  moved  to  White  springs  and 
thence  to  Kanadesaga  in  1732. 

21  There  was  an  earthwork  two  miles  beyond  the  last  or  three 
and  one  half  miles  northwest  of  Geneva,  east  of  the  Castle  road. 
It  was  800  feet  long  and  an  early  site  on  high  ground. — Sqiiier,  p.  55, 
pi.  7,  no.  I.  Squier's  plan  is  given  in  fig.  79.  There  are  graves 
in  the  southern  part. 

22  A  small  cem.etery  was  opened  near  Melvin  Hill  in  1896.  The 
heads  of  skeletons  were  to  the  west. 

23  Among  the  pine  barrens  on  Mr  Swift's  farm  three  miles  north 
of  Geneva  is  a  small  site  with  early  relics.  Dr  W.  G.  Hinsdale  re- 
ported ih\^  and  some  of  the  following  sites.  There  is  a  scattered 
site  with  early  relics  on  the  farm  of  John  Laws  on  the  county  line 
north  of  the  Waterloo  road. 

24  In  Geneva,  on  the  old  De  Zeng  place  west  of  Main  street, 
were  many  early  relics  and  also  camps  near  the  south  end  of  Main 
street  on  the  south  side  of  Glass  Factory  bay. 

25  Hon.  George  S.  Conover  reported  a  group  of  recent  sites  on 
Burrell  creek,  which  are  here  placed  under  one  number.  The  creek 
is  very  crooked  and  the  lots  are  not  in  regular  order.  There  was  an 
orchard  and  a  small  recent  cemetery  on  lot  36,  Seneca  east  of  the 
creek  on  the  Rupert  farm.  A  mile  east  of  this  and  south  of  the 
creek  was  a  recent  village  and  cemetery  on  the  old  Wheadon  farm 
on  lot  12.  Near  the  north  line  of  lot  36  east  of  the  creek  was  an 
orchard  with  a  recent  cemetery  and  fireplaces.  A  recent  cemetery 
without  relics  and  with  longitudinal  burial  was  on  the  Rippey  farm, 
lot  9,  south  of  the  creek.  A  trail  from  the  southeast  came  to  the 
center  of  the  old  Brother  farm  on  which  there  was  a  village.  It 


130  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

followed  the  highway  northwesterly.  Canaenda  was  removed  to 
lot  32  on  Burrell  creek  where  there  was  a  large  cemetery  mostly  on 
N.  A.  Read's  farm  about  25  rods  southw^est  of  the  creek.  On  that 
farm  and  east  of  the  creek  was  one  of  the  principal  sites  of  the  town. 
On  lot  31  west  of  the  creek  was  another  recent  cemetery.  Lodge 
sites  and  a  cemetery  were  on  .the  Hazlet  farm^  lot  37,  west  of 
Burrell  creek. 

26  Kashong,  on  Kashong  creek,  seven  miles  south  of  Geneva, 
was  burned  in  1779,  but  the  recent  site  is  hardly  well  defined.  A 
recent  cemetery  was  opened  near  the  lake  in  1889. 

27  Camps  on  Canandaigua  outlet. 

28  Rehcs  have  been  reported  from  Squaw  island,  at  the  foot  of 
Canandaigua  lake.  Early  implements  occur  on  a  site  on  a  hill 
west  of  this. 

29  A  small  village  was  west  of  Manchester  Center,  on  the  south 
bank  of  Canandaigua  outlet,  nearly  two  and  a  half  miles  north- 
west of  the  village  west  of  Clifton.  Earthenware  and  articles  of 
stone  occur.  It  was  probably  a  fishing  camp.  Mr  Coates  reported 
this  and  the  following. 

30  A  large  fortified  town  was  in  the  tow^n  of  Phelps,  on  a  bluff 
facing  the  Canandaigua  outlet,  on  its  south  side.  A  wall  has 
been  described  there.  No  recent  articles  have  been  found  and  all 
are  of  stone  or  clay.    The  site  is  northwest  of  the  village  of  Phelps. 

31  Skeletons  have  been  exhumed  and  relics  found  at  Littleville, 
a  hamlet  on  the  creek  south  of  Shortsville.  Some  of  the  latter  indi- 
cate early  visitors,  and  several  trails  converged  at  the  ford  there. 

32  Three  fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  Chapinville  near  the 
creek  was  a  workshop.  Flint  chips,  unfinished  weapons  and  fine 
stone  articles  were  once  frequent  there.  Some  other  reputed  Indian 
sites  which  he  had  not  personally  examined,  Mr  Coates  did  not 
describe. 

Orange  county.  The  notes  on  this  county  are  mainly  from 
Outline  history  of  Orange  county,  by  Samuel  W.  Eager. 

I  There  was  a  hamlet  abandoned  in  1755  on  Mr  Mould's  farm 
or  the  main  road  from  Montgomery  to  Albany.  Other  sites  were 
traditional. — Eager,  p.  277 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


2  Another  recent  settlement  on  the  flat  above  VVallkill  bridge  in 
Montgomery. — Eager,  p.  277 

3  Indians  owned  an  eel  weir  on  the  creek  at  Henry  Crist's. — 
Eager,  p., 277 

4  An  Indian  village  and  orchard  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Wallkill 
on  the  town  line  between  Wallkill  and  jMontgomery. — Eager,  p.  277 

5  Indian  spring  is  east  of  the  village  of  Michigan.  Bushels  of 
arrowheads  have  been  found  there. — Eager,  p.  352 

6  "  Maringoman's  castle  "  was  on  the  north  end  of  Skunnemunk 
mountain  and  on  the  south  side  of  Murderer's  creek,  Blooming 
Grove.    The  cemetery  was  a  little  south  of  this. — Beach,  p.  7 

7  Maringoman's  wigwam  "  was  on  the  north  bank  of  the  creek 
in  Hamptonsburg  at  the  junction  of  Otterkill  and  Grey  court 
creek.    Early  relics  are  found  in  many  places  near. — Beach,  p.  7 

8  There  w^as  a  recent  village  and  cemetery  in  Minisink  on 
Samuel  Dolsan's  farm. — Eager,  p.  213 

9  On  Jogee  hill  was  another  village  with  small  images  and 
abundant  arrow-heads. — Eager,  p.  418 

10  On  the  Welling  farm  in  Warwick  w^as  a  village  and  orchard 
called  ^Mistucky. — Eager,  p.  423 

11  A  ceijietery  on  Sugar  Loaf  mountain  had  about  30  graves 
before  the  revolution,  with  palisades  around  the  mounds. — Eager, 
P-  517 

12  Dans  Kammer  is  a  cove  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  of 
Newburgh  where  the  Esopus  Indians  met  for  religious  dances, 
hence  the  name.  De  Vries  mentioned  these  in  1640.  Mr  Frey 
had  a  site  reported  to  him  on  the  point. 

13  Another  site  was  at  Penn  point  below  Newburgh. 

The  Algonquin  inhabitants  shifted  so  often  that  there  are  few 
prominent  sites. 

Orleans  county,  i  There  were  burial  mounds  and  other  ancient 
remains  in  the  town  of  Ridgeway. — Macaiiley,  2:113.  Josiah 
Priest  in  his  American  antiquities  (p.  327)  speaks  of  forts  in  this 
town,  which  has  since  been  divided,  Carlton  being  taken  from  it 
in  1822.    Dr  F.  D.  Snyder  reports  finding  two  mounds  on  the  north 


1^2  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

bank  of  Oak  Orchard  creek  two  miles  from  the  lake.  No  other 
works  were  known. 

2  There  was  a  circular  work  one  and  one  half  miles  west  of 
Shelby  Center,  of  which  Turner  gives  an  account  without  mention- 
ing the  double  wall  or  more  than  one  gateway.  Squier  quotes 
his  account  which  has  many  features  of  interest.  F.  H.  Gushing 
described  it  in  the  Smithsonian  report  for  1874,  with  its  double 
walls,  gateways  and  boulders.  Some  have  ascribed  to  it  a  great 
antiquity.  It  is  simply  a  prehistoric  Iroquois  fort  with  the  usual 
relics,  but  it  includes  some  Ohio  shells.  Dr  Snyder  furnished  a 
plan,  given  in  fig.  67,  divided  into  quadrants  by  fences,  two  sections 
being  under  cultivation.  In  one  of  these  the  inner  wall  curved  to 
avoid  two  large  limestone  boulders.  The  passages  through  the 
outer  and  inner  walls  are  not  quite  opposite. 

3  Half  a  mile  west  of  this  was  once  a  large  cemetery.  Mr  Squier 
says  "  it  is  not  known  that  many  ancient  remains  occur  in  this 
county,"  and  these  are  all  reported.  Schoolcraft  speaks  however 
of  an  old  fort  in  a  swamp  at  Barnegat  now  Shelby  Center  which  is 
noted  above. 

Oswego  county.  As  a  rule  few  important  works  or  sites  are 
found  near  Lake  Ontario,  as  there  was  little  security  there  except 
where  there  were  rocky  banks  as  on  the  Genesee  river.  Temporary 
fishing  villages  were  more  frequent  and  some  should  yet  be  found 
where  streams  of  some  size  enter  the  lake,  though  the  traces  are 
rare. 

1  Otianhatague,  or  Canohage,  was  at  the  mouth  of  Salmon 
river,  and  there  was  a  fishing  village  there  in  1654  and  the  following 
year.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  of  long  continuance  as  no 
one  was  there  in  1656.    Few  relics  are  found. 

2  In  Grisfield  Johnson's  History  of  Oswego  county,  p.  60  is  an  ac- 
count of  a  mound  near  Trout  brook  in  the  north  part  of  Albion, 
which  rose  from  the  midst  of  level  land.  It  was  probably  a  natural 
elevation  but  many  relics  are  reported  close  beside  it.  On  the  top 
of  a  hill  near  by  was  a  circular  bank  inclosing  about  two  acres.  It 
had  a  ditch. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  I33 

3  Bone  hill  was  a  burial  place  at  Oswego  Falls  west  of  the  river, 
but  was  probably  natural  Human  bones  were  frequent  there  but 
few  were  found  when  it  was  leveled.  Around  Lake  Neatawantha 
are  scattered  camps  with  arrowheads  and  a  little  pottery. 

4  A  small  early  hamlet  was  on  the  west  side  of  Oswego  river  a 
mile  south  of  Fulton. 

5  There  was  a  hamlet  of  some  size  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
less  than  a  mile  north  of  Hinmansville  with  arrowheads,  pottery,  and 
camps  near  the  mouth  of  Ox  creek.  Nothing  has  been  learned  of  a 
fort  on  Ox  creek  mentioned  by  Squier  though  there  were  camps  on 
that  stream. 

6  There  was  a  circular  work  of  less  than  an  acre  and  with  two 
gates  on  lot  24,  Granby.  This  is  on  the  hill  east  of  South  Granby 
station,  and  what  remains  appears  in  fig.  71.  The  removal  of 
gravel  has  obliterated  a  considerable  part  of  the  work.  The 
diameter  is  240  feet.  The  descriptions  in  Clark  and  Squier  are 
incorrect.  Scarcely  anything  is  found  except  a  few  fragments  of 
pottery.    It  was  occupied  a  very  short  time. 

7  Another  similar  fort  once  existed  on  level  land  on  lot  32.  It 
was  occupied  much  longer  and  yields  the  usual  reHcs.  This  also 
has  been  incorrectly  described. 

8  There  was  a  semicircular  work  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at 
Oswego  Falls.  Supposing  it  once  to  have  been  circular,  the 
western  side  was  removed  in  cutting  the  canal.  Mr  Clark  says  it 
was  about  10  rods  across.  This  seems  the  fort  which  Squier  men- 
tions near  Phillipsville.    Probably  only  semicircular. 

9  There  were  camps  on  the  Oneida  river  at  Caughdenoy,  where 
the  Onondagas  and  Oneidas  had  eel  weirs,  as  w^ell  as  elsewhere. 
Early  travelers  described  these.  There  were  small  camps  toward 
Brewerton. 

10  There  were  camps  on  the  mainland  and  on  the  island  in  the 
Oswego  river  at  Phoenix,  mostly  early,  though  some  are  very 
recent.  It  was  a  favorite  fishing  place  and  fine  relics  have  been 
found,  many  hundreds  coming  from  the  island. 

11  There  were  camps,  hamlets  and  cemeteries  at  Brewerton,  a 
favorite  early  and  recent  resort.    Harpoons  and  other  bone  articles 


134  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

are  abundant,  with  some  bone  fish  hooks.  Clark's  account  of  a 
large  cemetery  is  exaggerated. 

12  A  small  village  on  a  point  on  the  north  shore  of  Oneida  lake 
half  way  between  Brewerton  and  Constantia.  Early  relics  but  no 
pottery. 

13  There  are  camps  and  relics  on  the  lake  shore  west  of  Oswego, 
near  the  mouth  of  Eight  Mile  creek.  They  are  rare  in  such  situa- 
tions, but  a  small  camp  has  also  been  observed  two  miles  east  of 
Oswego  on  the  shore.    Many  arrowheads. 

Mr  Clark  reported  remains  of  old  fortifications  on  both  sides  of 
the  river  near  Battle  Island  but  diligent  inquiry  reveals  none.  A 
cache  of  flint  articles  was  found  east  of  the  Battle  Island  dam.  A 
curious  earthwork  reported  by  the  writer  on  the  east  bank  near 
Hinmansville  seems  not  aboriginal  and  may  not  be  military.  It 
may  have  been  a  camp  of  Frontenac's  army. 

14  Camp  on  the  lake  shore  2  miles  east  of  Oswego.  Early  relics. 
Otsego  county,    i  The  Iroquois  had  little  to  do  with  this  county 

till  recent  times  and  the  few  sites  are  of  minor  importance.  Most 
of  those  about  Richfield  Springs  may  be  placed  under  one  heading, 
and  are  taken  from  Richfield  Springs  and  vicinity,  by  W.  T.  Bailey. 
An  oblong  mound,  often  visited  by  the  Oneidas,  was  reputed  to  be 
the  grave  of  a  chief  and  was  in  Mr  Hopkinson's  orchard  in  that 
town. — Bailey,  p.  27.  A  recent  cemetery  was  on  a  ridge  opposite 
the  lake  house. — Bailey,  p.  37.  Thi;ee  skeletons  were  found  near 
that  house  and  a  cache  of  flint  articles  near  the  lake.  Several  places 
on  Oak  ridge^  west  of  the  lake,  half  a  mile  from  the  head,  had 
early  articles. — Bailey,  p.  39.  In  grading  near  the  bridge  east  of 
this  ridge  skeletons  were  found  with  flat  stones  over  the  faces. — 
Bailey,  p.  40 

2  Francis  W.  Halsey  says  that  the  first  settlers  in  Coopers- 
town  found  arrowheads  and  stone  axes  in  great  abundance.  This 
is  the  statement  in  J.  F.  Cooper's  Chronicles  of  Cooperstown,  p.  5. 
Rev.  Richmond  Shreve  writes  that  there  is  a  supposed  sepulchral 
mound  at  that  place  on  the  east  side  of  the  Susquehanna. 

3  Garrett  C.  Pier  reported  several  camp  sites  with  early  relics 
at  the  northwest  end  of  Otsego  lake. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


135 


4  The  only  mound  of  which  he  knew  was  at  Oneonta. 

5  Mr  Halsey  says  that  on  the  Susquehanna  west  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Charlotte  river  was  an  Indian  orchard,  and  a  mound  on  an 
adjacent  island  was  called  the  grave  of  Kagatinga,  a  chief.  Vetal 
Winn  reports  an  early  site  of  three  or  four  acres  in  the  angle 
made  by  the  south  side  of  the  Charlotte  river  with  the  Susquehanna. 
Pottery  is  found  there.  Articles  from  this  spot  were  in  the  fine 
collection  destroyed  in  the  burning  of  the  Oneonta  normal  school. 

6  The  ancient  Unadilla  was  burned  in  1778,  and  was  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Unadilla  with  the  Susquehanna  on  both  sides  of  the 
river. —  Sullivan,  p.  23.  It  was  inhabited  in  1753  by  Stockbridge 
Indians  and  w^as  mentioned  by  the  Rev.  Gideon  Hawley. 

7  "  It  is  stated  upon  very  good  authority  that  an  ancient  earth- 
work once  existed  near  Unadilla." — Squicr,  p.  46.  It  is  also  stated 
that  an  Indian  m^onument  of  a  conical  form  10  feet  high  once 
stood  in  this  town. — Barber,  p.  447.  Mr  Halsey  also  mentions  this, 
a  mile  below  Unadilla  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  as  a  heap  of 
stones  on  which  the  Indians  cast  a  stone  as  they  passed. 

8  He  says  that  there  was  also  a  mound  in  which  relics  were  found, 
but  which  w-as  probably  natural,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river. 

9  A  rather  large  village  with  an  apple  orchard  was  at  the  mouth  of 
Otego  creek.    Arrowheads  and  sinkers  are  found. 

10  A  large  site  between  Schenevus  creek  and  the  Susque- 
hanna river,  reported  by  T.  L.  Bishop,  is  thought  by  him  to  have 
been  Towanoendalough,the  first  Mohawk  town  on  the  Susquehanna, 
visited  by  Rev.  Gideon  Hawley  in  1753.  It  is  near  and  a  little 
east  of  Colliersville.  The  prehistoric  relics  far  outnumber  the  recent, 
so  that  there  were  at  least  tw^o  occupations.  It  is*  on  the  north  side 
of  Schenevus  creek  and  covers  from  10  to  15  acres.  On  the  west 
side'of  the  river  arrowheads,  hammer  stones  and  flint  chips  occur. 

1 1  A  camp  site  is  two  miles  north  of  ColHersville  and  east  of  the 
river.  Triangular  arrowheads  and  broken  and  perfect  earthenware 
are  found. 

12  A  recent  site  is  one  fourth  mile  south  of  Portlandville,  east 
of  the  river.    It  has  rude  and  early  implements. 


136  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

13  A  small  site  three  miles  north  of  Portlandville,  east  of  the 
river  has  also  early  relics. 

14  Early  relics  are  scattered  about  near  the  confluence  of  Cherry 
Valley  creek  and  the  Susquehanna  a  mile  east  of  Milford. 

15  Early  relics  are  also  found  on  a  camping  ground  of  five  acres 
a  mile  north  of  Milford,  west  of  the  river. 

16  Arrowheads  are  found  on  camps  one  half  mile  below  Phoenix 
Mills,  east  of  the  river. 

17  Niskayuna  rock  is  a  large  boulder  two  miles  north  of  Middle- 
field  on  the  west  side  of  Cherry  Valley  creek.  A  reputed  rendez- 
vous, with  some  relics. 

18  An  early  camp  is  on  the  Coats  farm  one  half  mile  south  of 
Roseboom,  on  the  west  side  of  the  same  creek. 

19  Camp  with  abundant  arrowheads  at  Schenevus  lake  a  mile 
southwest  of  Schenevus. 

20  A  small  camp  a  mile  west  of  Maryland,  north  of  the  creek. 

21  A  camp  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  two  miles  below  CoUiers- 
ville.    Rude  implements  and  an  engraved  banner  stone. 

22  A  large  camp  three  miles  above  Oneonta  on  the  west  side 
was  an  early  site.  A  similar  camp  is  opposite.  These  are  above  the 
camp  at  no.  5. 

23  An  early  and  extensive  camp  two  miles  below  Oneonta, 
north  of  the  river.  Arrowheads  and  pestles  occur  as  on  most  local 
early  sites. 

24  Perfect  pottery  has  been  found  near  Otego  on  the  east  bank  of 
Otsdawa  creek. 

25  A  large  camp  two  miles  north  of  Otego,  east  of  and  near 
the  creek.  * 

26  Camp  on  the  Matlin  farm  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of 
Garrettsville,  east  of  Butternut  creek.    Early  relics. 

27  A  camp  with  early  relics  on  the  west  side  of  the  same  creek 
two  miles  south  of  Morris,  is  on  Jerome  Lull's  farm.  All  the 
sites  from  no.  9  inclusive  though  not  unnoticed  by  others,  were  re- 
ported by  T.  L.  Bishop  of  Portlandville.  Pestles  are  found  on 
nearly  all. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


Putnam  county.  As  in  all  Algonquin  regions  the  sites  here  are 
small  and  scattered,  and  though  frequent  on  streams  have  attracted 
little  attention.  L.  W.  Calver  said  in  Popular  science  news  of 
November  1896,  "The  Indian  village  sites  of  the  highlands  are 
well  known  to  those  interested  and  have  been  explored  time  and 
again  for  such  relics  as  occasionally  come  to  light.  The  finds  con- 
sist principally  of  arrow  and  spear  points  of  flint  or  other  hard  stone 
and  are  of  almost  every  known  shape."  All  he  mentioned  were  near 
Cold  Spring,  and  had  previously  been  reported  by  Dr  James  S. 
Nelson.    The  Canopus  and  Mahopac  Indians  lived  in  this  county. 

1  A  recent  site  is  the  Indian  field  two  miles  south  of  Cold  Spring, 
directly  opposite  West  Point. 

2  A  cam.p  a  mile  north  of  this  where  a  copper  knife  was  found. 

3  A  camp  on  the  outskirts  of  Cold  Spring.  Curious  articles  have 
been  found  near  that  place. 

Queens  county.  Shell  heaps  are  frequent  throughout  Long 
Island,  the  natives  not  only  feasting  on  shell-fish  in  the  summer  but 
drying  large  quantities  of  oysters  and  clams  for  winter  use.  In 
their  own  tongue  the  island  was  the  land  of  shells.  In  another  form 
it  was  the  place  of  shell  beads.  In  many  places  shell  heaps  con- 
tinuously hfie  the  shores  of  the  bays,  and  often  reveal  more  than  the 
village  sites.  The  latter  are  few  in  comparison.  Within  well  de- 
fined territories  the  people  were  in  constant  motion. 

Ill  skeletons  were  found  in  the  Linnaean  garden  in  Flushing 
in  1 84 1.    All  the  heads  were  to  the  east. — Firman 

2  A  cemetery  was  opened  on  Thomas  P.  Duryea's  farm,  a  mile 
from  Flushing  in  1880.  Stone  relics  were  found  in  this.  The 
Matinecocks  had  large  settlements  at  Flushing,  Glen  Cove  and  Cow 
Harbor.  There  were  other  villages  of  this  tribe  in  Suffolk  county. — 
Thompson,  p.  67.    All  will  not  be  numbered. 

3  There  were  many  relics  and  shell  banks  about  Little  Neck. 
Douglass  point  was  the  most  interesting  spot  among  these. — Mandc- 
ville,  p.  93 

4  The  Jamecc  Indians  had  a  village  on  a  creek  a  mile  south  of 
the  present  village  of  Jamaica. — Thompson,  p.  382 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


5  Indian  corn  grinders,  axes  and  arrowheads  were  often  plowed 
up  at  the  Maspeth  hills. — Furman.  The  Maspeths  lived  at  the  head 
of  Newtown  creek. — Thompson,  p.  410 

6  A  small  shell  heap  was  at  Sanford's  point,  Astoria,  opposite 
the  north  end  of  Blackwell's  island.  There  were  early  and  quite 
modern  relics. 

Pensselaer  county.  This  is  mainly,  perhaps  entirely,  Algonquin 
territory  as  both  sides  of  the  Hudson  were  outside  of  the  early  Iro- 
quois Hmits  here. 

1  Old  Schaghticoke  is  near  the  mouth  of  the  Hoosick  river.  The 
Mohawks  gave  the  Schaghticokes  a  home  here.  The  Knicker- 
bocker cemetery  is  the  site  of  an  Indian  burial  place.  Near  by  is 
the  Wittenagemote  or  Council  tree. — French,  p.  559.  This  is  a 
Dutch  name  applied  to  an  Indian  custom  and  place. 

2  A  site  has  been  reported  near  Buskirk  Bridge  on  the  Tyoshoke 
creek  with  relics  thence  to  Schaghticoke. 

All  the  following  except  the  las,t  two,  were  reported  by  Rev.  O.  C. 
Auringer  of  Troy,  who  has  done  much  thorough  work.  He  found 
few  celts  but  many  scrapers.  Until  recently  he  had  found  little 
earthenware  which  is  generally  rare  east  of  the  Hudson.  Now  he 
has  large  fragments. 

3  There  is  a  site  on  Crooked  lake  east  of  the  source  of  the 
Wynantskill  in  the  town  of  Sand  Lake.  This  has  scrapers  and 
grooved  axes. 

4  A  recent  cemetery  was  opened  in  Lansingburg  in  1897,  but  a 
neighboring  camp  was  of  an  earlier  type. 

5  There  was  an  early  camping  spot  of  three  acres  with  signs  of 
two  occupations  on  Green  island.  Tliere  were  no  gouges  or 
pottery. 

6  Early  site  and  cemetery  at  South  Troy. 

7  Vandenburgh's  hill.  A  varied  and  successive  occupation  over 
five  acres,  with  finest  articles  near  the  surface. 

8  East  Troy  (Albia).  A  group  of  small  sites  extending  over  a 
hundred  acres.  Very  rude  articles.  Remarkable  for  having  no 
arrowheads,  spears,  knives,  polished  work  or  pottery. 

9  The  Moenemines'  castle  was  on  land  bought  by  Van  Rensse- 
laer in  1630  of  the  Mahikans  east  of  the  river.  He  also  bought  land 
of  them  on  the  west  side. — Doc.  his.  N.  Y.  14:1 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF  NEW  YORK  I39 

10  Some  Stockbridge  Indians  lived  at  Brainard's  in  Nassau  in 
1760,  where  Mr  Hoag's  orchard  stands.  The  place  was  called  On- 
ti-ke-ho-mawck. — French,  p.  557 

Richmond  county,  i  A  few  implements  and  shell  heaps  with 
some  graves  have  been  reported  near  Tottenville  at  the  south  end  of 
Staten  island. 

Rockland  county.  There  are  probably  many  small  camps  in  this 
county,  but  none  have  attracted  much  attention. 

I  A  heap  of  stones  on  the  Cheesecock  patent,  1700. — Green,  p.  20 

St  Lawrence  county.  This  county  was  in  the  early  Iroquois  ter- 
ritory though  it  was  visited  by  others.  F.  B.  Hough  says  there 
are  many  open  sites  and  that  pottery  is  abundant  by  the  low  lands  of 
tributaries  of  the  St  Lawrence.  None  of  these  have  been  definitely 
reported.  There  occur  stone  gouges,  arrowheads  of  many  materials, 
steatite  beads  and  ornaments,  bone  needles  and  other  implements. 

Not  infrequently  a  rude  resemblance  to  the  human  face  is  noticed 
on  these  fragments  of  pottery." — Hough,  p.  18.  The  important 
sites  were  reported  by  him. 

1  A  fort  on  a  hill  is  half  a  mile  southwest  of  the  railroad  bridge  at 
the  village  of  Racket  River  in  Massena.  It  was  an  irregular  in- 
closure  like'  an  ox-bow.  The  open  side  was  toward  the  river  and 
had  a  ditch.  There  were  no  bastions,  and  Mr  Hough  said  a  pre- 
vious description  he  had  given  was  erroneous. — Hough,  p.  21.  At 
a  late  hour  Dr  O.  McFadden,  of  Massena,  sent  a  careful  plan  of 
this.  It  was  a  stockade  rather  than  an  earthwork  and  had  the  usual 
trench  in  which  pickets  were  set.  The  west  line  is  116  paces  long. 
The  opening  is  less  and  has  some  peculiar  features.  There  are 
many  pits  about  the  open  part  and  outside  of  the  west  line.  Fig. 
91  is  reduced  from  Dr  McFadden's  large  and  carefully  made  plan. 

2  There  was  a  remarkable  work  on  the  farm  of  H.  C.  Holbrook, 
on  or  near  mile  lot  10  in  the  northeast  part  of  Potsdam.  It  was 
semicircular,  and  was  west  of  the  river  and  half  a  mile  north  of  the 
railroad  bridge  at  Raquetteville.  There  were  several  gates,  fire- 
places within  and  without,  and  the  usual  relics.  Graves  were  found 
on  a  neighboring  island. — Hough,  p.  21 


140 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


3  There  was  a  village  near  the  Narrows  of  Black  lake,  and  on  a 
hill  east  of  Edwardsville.  It  was  half  a  mile  long  and  had  the  usual 
relics. — Hough,  p.  27 

4  There  were  obscure  and  perhaps  recent  paintings  on  the  shores 
of  Black  lake  between  Hammond  and  the  Narrows.  Similar 
pictures  occur  on  the  Canada  side  of  the  St  Lawrence. — Hough, 
p.  26 

5  Father  Picquet  founded  the  mission  of  La  Presentation  on  the 
site  of  Ogdensburg.  Many  Onondagas  and  Cayugas  went  there. 
The  fort  became  a  thorn  to  the  colony  of  New  York.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson  said  that  the  Oswegatchies  were  mostly  Onondagas 
in  1763.  These  were  at  La  Galette  or  Indian  Point  three  miles 
below  Ogdensburg. 

6  The  road  passes  through  a  semicircular  work  on  B.  Pope's  land 
in  Oswegatchie.  This  is  on  lot  20  near  Ogdensburg.  Contrary  to 
custom  the  ditch  was  on  the  insicle. — Hough,  p.  22.  This  is  shown 
in  fig.  70. 

7  Fred  Howlett  found  Indian  relics  on  the  shore  of  Cran- 
berry lake  in  1892. 

8  There  are  several  sites  with  fireplaces  in  Macomb  not  described 
by  Hough.  Some  forts  he  includes  in  his  history  and  gives  two 
plans  in  the  regents  report  for  1850.  One  is  on  the  farm  of  William 
Houghton  and  is  north  of  the  road  near  the  east  bank  of  Birch 
creek.  He  called  it  semicircular,  with  the  ends  of  the  bank  resting 
on  the  creek.  His  plan  in  fig.  72  is  very  different.  The  area  was 
one  and  one  half  acres,  with  pottery,  steatite  beads  and  stone  imple- 
ments. The  northern  counties  are  remarkable  for  these  beads. — 
Hough,  p.  19 

9  There  was  a  semicircular  work  on  a  hill  not  far  from  this.  It 
was  credited  to  Capt.  Washburn's  farm  in  Gouverneur  before  the 
change  in  town  lines.  The  account  of  rude  sculpture  is  in- 
correct.— Hough,  p.  19-20 

10  Half  a  mile  northeast  of  no.  8  was  a  work  on  the  land  of  W.  P. 
Houghton  and  J.  Sweet.  It  was  irregularly  oval  and  reached  a 
stream.  Some  ash-beds  were  5  feet  deep.  A  village  site  was  near. 
— Hough,  p.  20 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


141 


11  A  half  circular  wall  was  on  the  land  of  R.  Wilson  and  the  St 
Lawrence  lead  mining  company.  It  had  a  gate  midway  on  the  west 
side  and  the  ends  of  the  wall  rested  against  rocks.  From  the  gate 
a  wall  crossed  a  stream  to  other  rocks. — Hough,  p.  20.  Fig.  80  is 
his  plan. 

12  Dr  McFadden  reported  a  small  fort  a  mile  southwest  of  Mas- 
sena.    It  was  like  that  at  Racket  River  and  on  high  land. 

13  A  village  site  near  the  east  end  of  Long  Sault  island  yields 
abundant  pottery.  Seven  skeletons  were  found  in  a  mound  south  of 
this,  a  large  pitcher-like  vessel,  four  gouges,  and  some  very  coarse 
cloth,  which  looked  like  our  hair  cloth,  only  very  coarse.  Also 
seven  strings  of  beads."  The  other  mound  was  half  a  mile  from 
this. 

14  A  stone  mortar  and  pestle  were  found  a  mile  east  of  Massena 
Center  and  arrowheads  are  frequent  in  many  places. 

These  forts  belong  to  a  group  on  the  north  side  of  the  St  Law- 
rence and  are  early  Iroquois  in  character. 

Saratoga  county,  i  A  cemetery  is  reported  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  Sacandaga,  in  the  town  of  Edinburg  but  is  in  the  town  of 
Day. — French,  p.  588 

2  Near  the  mill  pond  on  Snookkill  in  Wilton  were  early  camps 
or  a  village. — French,  p.  593 

3  There  was  a  site  at  Saratoga  village  with  early  relics. — 
Auringer 

4  Early  relics  are  found  on  the  camp  sites  on  the  flats  at  Sara- 
toga lake. — Stone,  p.  89 

5  South  of  Stafford's  bridge  on  the  south  side  of  the  outlet 
was  a  grave  with  pottery. — Stone,  p.  90 

6  A  supposed  pottery  kiln  was  south  of  Fish  creek  between 
the  bridge  and  the  "  old  Milligan  place." — Stone,  p.  89 

7  Camp  sites  along  Fish  creek  from  Saratoga  lake  to  Schuyler- 
ville.    One  very  large  one  is  near  the  mouth." — Hildhurgh 

8  Large  camp  four  miles  from  the  mouth. — Hildburgh 

9  A  recent  camp  or  village  site  on  "  Arrowhead  farm."  This  is 
on  a  hill  west  pf  Saratoga  lake  a  mile  south  of  the  north  end.— 
Hildburgh 


142  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

10  Large  and  long  occupied  site  at  Round  lake  with  early  relics. 
There  are  smaller  sites  on  the  inlet. — Auringer 

11  Cache  of  flints  in  Charlton  on  the  east  side  of  Consalus  Vlaie. 
Pottery  is  found  on  most  sites.    Arrowheads  occur  on  all  plowed 

land  from  Bemis  Heights  to  Wilber's  basin.  The  Mohawks  fished 
at  Cohoes  but  had  no  village  there. 

Schenectady  county.  Macauley  says  that  between  1616  and  1620 
the  Dutch  bought  land  at  Ohnowalagantle,  now  Schenectady,  where 
there  was  then  a  large  Mohawk  town  and  some  hamlets.  The 
principal  village  was  within  the  present  city  and  the  lands  were  cul- 
tivated. Traditionally  the  town  occupied  the  site  of  Con-nugh- 
harie-gugh-harie,  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Mohawks. — Macauley, 
2  -.284.  This  is  quoted  only  to  say  that  no  part  of  it  has  any  founda- 
tion though  it  has  been  naturally  adopted  by  several  writers. 

1  Camp  near  the  Mohawk  in  Glenville  with  triangular  arrowheads 
of  yellow  jasper.  Another  site  a  mile  av/ay,  had  arrowheads  of  all 
forms. — Amer.  arch.  1894.  Near  the  west  line  of  Glenville  about 
one  and  one  half  miles  from  the  river,  a  camp  and  cornfield  have 
been  reported  by  P.  M.  Van  Epps.  Also  a  camp  site  north  of  the 
river  near  Plofifmans  Ferry  and  small  camps  east  of  that  place. 

2  A  small  camp  a  mile  farther  east  noted  for  its  triangular  arrow- 
heads.   The  three  following  sites  were  also  reported  by  him. 

3  A  cemetery  with  curious  relics  was  opened  in  a  gravel  bed  in 
1874.  There  were  bone  tools  and  a  hook,  slate  tubes,  copper  axe, 
perforated  shells,  a  gorget  and  135  copper  beads. — Aincr.  ant. 
1894.    This  was  about  five  miles  northwest  of  Schenectady. 

4  A  cemetery  nearly  a  mile  northeast  of  Sanders  lake. 

5  A  grave  with  relics  in  the  northwest  part  of  Rotterdam  near 
Pattersonville,  south  of  the  river. 

6  Village  site  near  Rexford  Flats  and  the  river.  It  is  a  mile  west 
of  that  place  on  the  east  side  of  Alplaus  creek  four  and  one  half 
miles  northeast  of  Schenectady.  Early  relics  occur  over  about  five 
acres  and  there  are  fireplaces  and  abundant  shells. 

7  Village  site  on  the  south  side  one  and  one  half  miles  below 
Rexford  Flats  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek.  Early  relics  are  found 
over  a  space  of  half  an  acre.    Hanford  Robison  reported  these 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF  NEW  YORK  I43 

two,  and  he  has  surface  finds  from  Schenectady  to  Karner,  seven 
miles  southeast. 

In  the  spring  of  1899  some  large  flint  knives  and  a  long  stone  tube 
were  dug  up  near  Hoffmans  Ferry.  These  must  be  given  an  early 
date. 

Schoharie  county,  i  The  former  stone  heap  near  Sloansville 
was  noticed  by  Rev.  Gideon  Hawley  in  1753.  Every  Indian  cast  a 
stone  on  it  in  passing  and  his  guide  did  the  same.  The  heap  was 
four  rods  long,  one  or  two  wide  and  from  10  to  15  feet  high.  It  has 
been  obliterated. — Simms,  p.  632 

2  A  mound  on  Shingler's  land,  near  the  cemetery  south  of 
Sloansville  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  to  Central  Bridge.  A 
workshop  extended  into  the  cemetery.  There  is  also  a  recent  Indian 
cemetery  on  the  same  side,  on  Albert  L.  Fisher's  farm.  This 
has  headstones.  A  village  site  and  workshop  are  on  the  east 
toward  the  creek. — Smith 

3  Workshop  at  the  base  of  the  lower  Helderberg  group  50  rods 
west  of  the  bridge  over  Schoharie  creek.  In  this  are  perfect  and 
unfinished  knives  and  arrow  and  spearheads. — Smithsonian  report, 
1879.  Workshop  north  and  west  of  the  depot  at  Schoharie  and 
another  west  of  the  creek  and  fair  grounds. — Smith 

4  At  Grovenor  Corners  was  a  recent  camp  by  a  ledge  of  rocks. 
— Smithsonian  report,  1879 

5  A  square  stockade  was  built  for  the  Indians  on  Vrooman's  land 
by  Sir  William  Johnson.  It  had  two  blockhouses  at  opposite 
corners.  There  is  a  burial  place.  A  village  and  stockade  were  east 
of  the  creek  and  opposite  the  next  mentioned.  The  Schoharies  had 
a  village  and  stockade  west  of  the  creek  on  Henry  V rooman's  land. 
— Simms,  p.  31-32 

6  Another  village  had  a  cemetery  and  was  on  the  Snyder  farm 
several  miles  south  of  the  first  mentioned  fort. — Simms,  p.  32 

7  A  recent  cemetery  on  the  river  near  Fultonham. — Simms,  p.  32 

8  A  Mohegan  village  was  at  the  mouth  of  Little  Schoharie  creek 
in  Middleburg.  This  had  a  stockade  and  all  four  forts  were  within 
four  miles  of  the  courthouse. — Simms,  p.  32.  The  Mohawks  made 
friends  of  their  former  foes  and  gave  some  of  them  land. 


144  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

9  There  was  a  small  village  at  Breakabeen.  It  had  a  cemetery 
and  was  west  of  the  creek. — Swims,  p.  207 

Schuyler  county,  i  Peach  Orchard  was  a  small  village  burned 
in  1779  and  was  on  the  east  side  of  Seneca  lake.  Condawhaw  was 
a  village  in  North  Hector  in  that  year.  The  name  suggests  Ken- 
daia. — Sullivan,  p.  129 

2  Dr  George  J.  Fisher  found  a  small  boulder  with  five  artificial 
grooves  in  1845.  This  was  in  North  Hector,  three  and  one  half 
miles  south  of  Mecklenburg.  Another  small  one  was  found  40  years 
later  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of  that  village.  They  are  rare 
outside  of  the  Iroquois  territory. 

3  There  was  "  a  village  site  and  cemetery  at  the  south  end  of 
Seneca  lake  in  Watkins.  European  articles  were  found." — Hild- 
btirgh 

4  Catharine  was  a  little  south  of  Havana  and  three  miles 
from  Seneca  lake.  It  was  a  Seneca  town  of  50  houses  and  was 
built  on  both  sides  of  the  inlet.  '  The  Indian  name  was  Sheoquaga. 
— Sullivan,  p.  29 

5  Dr  S.  H.  Wright  reports  mounds  at  Lake  Lamoka. 

Seneca  county.  This  county  was  occupied  by  both  Cayugas  and 
Senecas.  De  Witt  Clinton  spoke  of  several  earthworks  in  it  toward 
Cayuga  lake  but  described  none.  Delafield  also  said  Other  ruins 
of  fortified  mounds  or  elevated  points  exist  in  this  county,  too  indis- 
tinct for  description;  every  town  affords  abundant  evidence  of  the 
long  continued  residence  of  the  natives." — Delafield,  p.  389.  Many 
of  the  following  were  reported  by  Dr  W.  G.  Hinsdale,  among  them 
the  first  six  numbers  including  13  sites. 

1  A  lodge  site  on  lot  90,  Waterloo,  with  early  relics.  A  similar 
one  on  lot  92  half  a  mile  from  this  and  north  of  Seneca  river.  A 
small  site  at  R.  McCurdy's,  lot  91.  Another  on  lot  92  north  of  the 
canal  was  a  large  site  and  once  a  marsh  near  the  northeast  angle  of 
Seneca  lake.  It  was  plowed  in  the  dry  season  of  1878  and  several 
bushels  of  pottery  with  bone  and  stone  articles  were  found. 

2  From  the  site  on  lot  91  early  and  recent  relics  are  scattered 
along  the  river  to  Waterloo. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  1 45 

3  Skoiyase  was  a  village  of  i8  houses  at  Waterloo  burned  in 
1779.  There  were  fishponds  of  stone. — Sullivan,  p.  143.  There 
was  a  large  mixed  site  at  Waterloo  on  lots  2  and  4,  Fayette,  south 
of  the  river.  Early  and  recent  relics.  West  of  this  were  two  small 
sites  on  lot  2. 

4  A  small  site  at  the  mouth  of  Kendig's  creek,  lot  i,  Fayette. 

5  A  straggling  early  site  on  the  river  bank,  lot  10.  There  was  a 
Cayuga  village  near  there  in  1750.  A  large  site  on  the  farm  of 
R.  J.  Swan  is  continuous  with  this  and  is  on  Seneca  lake.  ]\Iost  of 
it  is  on  lot  II.    Early  and  recent  relics. 

6  A  small  mixed  site  on  lot  18,  Fayette,  on  a  bluff  near  the  lake. 
A  small  early  site  on  lot  24. 

7  An  early  site  was  on  the  Lawrence  farm,  lot  99,  Seneca  Falls, 
northwest  of  that  village. 

8  A  hamlet  on  Shankwiler's  farm,  lot  15.  Burned  in  1779. — 
Sullivan,  p.  76.   This  is  in  Fayette. 

9  Skannayutenate  a  small  village  40  rods  from  the  lake  on  the 
south  bank  of  Canoga  creek  half  a  mile  northeast  of  the  present 
Canoga.  Burned  in  1779.  A  monument  to  Red  Jacket  now  marks 
his  birthplace  at  Canoga.  A  town  of  10  houses  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Fayette,  one  and  one  half  miles  from  Canoga  was  burned 
in  1779.  ]>«iewtown  was  also  destroyed.  It  was  on  L.  Disinger's 
farm  by  the  lake  a  mile  south  of  Canoga. — Sullivan,  p.  76 

10  Camps  are  frequent  near  East  Varick,  lot  74,  Varick. 

1 1  A  small  site  on  lot  64,  Romulus.    Few  relics. 

12  An  early  site  toward  Kendaia  is  on  Van  Vleet's  farm,  lot  79, 
Romulus,  four  miles  southwest  of  Romulus  village  and  two  from 
Seneca  lake.  A  village  site  on  lot  67  half  way  between  this  and 
Romulus.  Abundant  pottery.  Kendaia  was  also  on  lot  79  and 
was  burned  in  1779.  It  was  half  a  mile  from  the  lake  on  the  north 
side  of  the  stream  above  the  forks.  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  says  it  was 
on  the  farm  of  Edward  A^an  Vleet  on  both  sides  of  the  stream. 
One  of  the  tombs  was  particularly  described.  "  The  body  was  laid 
on  the  surface  of  the  earth  in  a  shroud  or  garment;  then  a  large 
casement  made  very  neat  with  boards  something  larger  than  the 
body  and  about  4  foot  high  put  over  the  body  as  it  lay  on  the 
earth;  and  the  outside  and  top  were  painted  very  curious  with  a 
great  many  colors.    In  each  end  of  the  casement  was  a  small  hole 


146  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

where  the  friends  of  the  deceased  or  any  body  might  see  the  corpse 
when  they  pleased.  Then  over  all  was  built  a  large  shed  of  bark 
so  as  to  prevent  the  rain  from  coming  on  the  vault." — Sullivan, 
p.  129.    Two  others  were  much  like  this. 

13  An  early  site  west  of  Kendaia  on  either  side  of  the  mouth  of 
the  ravine  with  hearths  and  relics.    European  relics  near. 

14  On  lot  93  of  the  same  town  in  the  forks  of  Rising's  ravine 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Seneca  lake  was  once  "  a  distinct  wall  with 
holes  along  the  center  which  passed  from  one  branch  of  the  ravine 
to  the  other,"  inclosing  a  triangular  spot  50  feet  above  the  stream. 
Recent.  Also  a  small  site  in  front  of  the  Willard  asylum. — Hins- 
dale. 'He  also  reported  a  small  site  on  lot  94  on  a  high  bluff 
north  of  the  steamboat  landing.    Sinkers,  etc. 

15  Fishing  hamlet  on  lot  i,  Ovid,  at  the  mouth  of  a  deep  ravine. 
Others  occur  at  similar  places  as  far  as  Goff's  point. 

16  Swahyawana  was  a  hamlet  on  E.  J.  Dean's  farm  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  Romulus^  on  the  north  bank  of  Sinclair  Hollow 
creek.  Burned  in  lyyg.—SuUivan,  77.  Caches  on  the  farm  of 
D.  D.  Johnson,  lot  78,  a  mile  south  and  three  east  of  Romulus. 
About  20  caches  with  fireplaces. 

17  An  earthwork  on  lot  29,  half  a  mile  from  the  south  Hne  in 
Ovid,  on  the  lake  ridge.  It  was  an  irregular  ellipse  with  several 
gateways. — Delaficld,  p.  389.    His  plan  is  given  in  fig.  56. 

18  A  recent  cemetery  at  Gofif's  point  on  the  bank  of  Mill  creek,, 
lot  26,  Lodi.    European  relics. — Delaficld,  p.  388 

19  Charles  S.  Hall,  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  describes  a  village  site 
on  a  branch  of  Kendig  creek,  lot  36,  Fayette.    It  had  pottery. 

20  He  also  describes  a  considerable  village  on  the  east  shore  of 
Seneca  lake,  lot  23,  Fayette.    Pottery  was  found. 

21  In  the  center  of  lot  33,  Fayette,  was  a  fortified  town  of 
which  little  is  known.  It  proves  to  have  been  circular  with  an 
area  of  two  acres.  Brass  kettles  and  gun  barrels  have  been  found 
there. 

In  his  Centennial  historical  sketch  of  the  town  of  Fayette,  p.  14,  just 
published,  Diedrich  Willers  gives  a  more  satisfactory  account  of  the 
work  on  lot  33,  Fayette.  A  nearly  circular  bank  inclosed  several 
acres  of  elevated  land.  It  was  thick  and  high,  with  an  outside  ditch. 
The  trees  growing  within  and  on  the  walls  were  as  large  as  those 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


without.  The  two  gateways  were  5  feet  wide  and  large  stones  pro- 
tected the  wall  on  either  side  of  these.  The  principal  gate  was  at 
the  southeast  and  the  smaller  one  at  the  northwest  corner.  An 
ancient  cemetery  was  nearly  a  mile  southeast  of  this  fort,  where 
human  skeletons  of  unusually  large  size  were  found  in  mounds  of 
earth."   The  character  of  the    mounds  "  is  uncertain. 

Steuben  county.  But  few  notes  could  be  secured  in  this  county 
and  some  of  these  are  indefinite.  Some  unlocated  Delaware  towns 
destroyed  in  1764  may  have  been  here.  At  that  time  there  was  a 
town  of  30  good  houses  on  the  Cayuga  branch  with  four  villages 
and  another  at  Canisteo. — Doc.  hist.  N.  Y.  y:62^ 

Except  as  specified  the  following  notes  are  from  M.  F.  Roberts's 
Historical  gazetteer  and  directory  of  Stcuhcn  county,  1891. 

1  When  Avoca  was  first  settled,  there  were  50  Indian  huts  on 
the  Haskins  farm.  Early  relics  occur  there.  From  50  to  100  huts 
were  on  the  flat  below  Abram  Towner's  house.  These  numbers 
are  certainly  too  high.    Location  indefinite  on  the  map. 

2  There  are  small  camps  and  arrowheads  at  Hammondsport. 

3  At  the  settlement  there  were  two  square  stockades  of  an  acre 
each  at  Canisteo,  one  being  on  the  bank  of  the  river  in  the  neck 
of  a  defile  opening  into  the  valley  on  the  east.  In  early  documents 
Canisteo  is  cfescribed  as  a  village  made  up  of  stragglers  in  1762 
and  as  a  Delaware  town  of  60  houses  in  1764.  Tlie  stockade  had 
a  bank.  The  other  similar  work  was  at  an  opening  into  the  valley 
from  the  south  on  Col.  Bill's  creek. 

4  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  thought  the  tory  settlement  mentioned  in  Sul- 
livan's campaign  was  at  Painted  Post.  i\Iany  relics  have  been 
found  in  that  vicinity  and  there  are  some  large  sites.  An  effort 
by  the  writer  to  obtain  information  on  these,  from  local  collectors 
was  not  successful. 

5  A  Monsey  town  called  Assinisink  was  near  the  confluence  of 
the  Canisteo  and  Tioga  rivers  in  1764.  On  the  Pennsylvania  his- 
torical map  it  is  placed  at  the  forks  in  the  town  of  Erwin. 

6  As  late  as  1804  there  were  temporary  camps  along  the  north 
bank  of  the  river  in  Cameron.    Location  indefinite. 

7  Ward  E.  Bryan  reports  that  he  has  found  many  relics  along 
Post  creek  which  reaches  the  Chemung  at  Corning.  On  the  east 
side  of  the  creek  there,  a  dike  was  cut  through  a  site  having  arrow- 
heads and  pottery. 


148 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


8  A  cache  of  pieces  of  sea  shells  blocked  out  for  disks  was  found 
in  Lindley  near  the  state  line  and  east  of  the  Tioga.  This  was  on 
the  farm  of  Curtis  Guiles,  about  a  mile  from  the  forks  of 
Cowanesque  and  Tioga  rivers.  Mr  Roberts  presented  some  of 
these  to  the  writer. 

Suffolk  county.  The  eastern  end  of  SufYolk  county  had  an  early 
celebrity  as  the  seat  of  the  wampum  trade  which  continued  there 
till  the  middle  of  the  19th  century.  The  refuse  shells  are  abundant 
about  Gardiner's  bay  and  those  opened  for  food  form  large  heaps 
almost  everywhere  on  the  shore.  Furman  remarked  that  the  shell 
banks  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  were  larger  than  those  in 
the  eastern.  W.  W.  Tooker  who  has  kindly  revised  the  list 
of  sites  says  of  the  natives,  Shell  heaps,  wigwam  sites  and  other 
evidences  of  their  footsteps  are  found  near  swamps,  at  springs  of 
running  water,  on  the  southern  slopes  of  hills,  banks  of  ponds, 
shores  of  the  bays  and  creeks  and  in  other  sheltered  spots  from  the 
eastern  extremity  of  Montauk  to  the  western  line  of  Southampton." 
To  his  labors  we  owe  much  of  our  definite  knowledge  and  sites  not 
otherwise  credited  are  to  be  assigned  to  him. 

1  Wigwams  and  shell  banks  were  frequent  along  the  west  shore 
of  Lloyd's  neck. 

2  There  are  lodge  sites  along  the  southeast  shores  of  Huntington 
bay,  and  Thompson  said  that  the  Matinecocks  had  settlements  at 
Cold  Spring  and  Huntington. — Thompson,  p.  67.  There  were  set- 
tlements all  about  Cold  Spring  Harbor.  The  writer  finds  some 
confusion  about  Martin  Gerritsen's  bay.  Early  accounts  would 
seem  to  place  it  west  of  Oyster  bay  and  some  identify  it  with 
Schout's  bay  which  according  to  Van  Tienhoven  was  on  East  river. 
His  description  of  Gerritsen's  bay  in  1650  is  evidently  of  Hunting- 
ton bay.  Schout's  bay  had  one  river  and  Oyster  bay  divided  into 
two.  "  Martin  Gerritsen's  bay,  or  Martinnehouck,  is  much  deeper 
and  wider  than  Oyster  bay  and  runs  in,  westward  divides  into  three 
rivers,  two  of  which  are  navigable;  the  smallest  stream  runs  up 
in  front  of  the  Indian  village,  called  Martinnehouck  where  they 
have  their  plantations." — Doc.  hist.  N.  Y.  1 :366 

3  Five  cemeteries  at  St  Johnland  were  mentioned  in  the  New 
York  Sunday  star,  Nov.  28,  1880.  There  are  shell  heaps  about 
Nesaquague. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


149 


4  At  Stony  Brook  were  immense  quantities  of  shells. — Bayles, 
P-  234 

5  At  Wading  River  there  are  many  shell  heaps. 

6  There  was  a  cemetery  near  the  shore  southeast  of  Aquebogue. 

7  A  recent  stockade  on  Peconic  bay  was  south  of  Cutchogue, 
on  the  east  side  of  Fort  neck.  The  lines  of  earth  are  distinct  and 
inclose  half  or  three  fourths  of  an  acre. 

8  Lodge  sites  near  the  shore  east  of  Cutchogue. 

9  Cemetery  with  pottery  half  a  mile  east  of  Southold  village. 
Lodge  sites  on  the  opposite  shore  southward. 

10  Lodge  sites  and  shell  heaps  along  the  south  shore  of  the 
point  east  of  Greenport. 

11  On  Shelter  island  was  the  Indian  fort  of  1639,  shell  mounds 
now  indicating  the  site.  Mr  Tooker  places  four  villages  on  this 
island. 

12  Shell  banks  on  the  west  side  of  Gardiner's  island. 

13  Great  quantities  of  white  quartz  arrowheads  have  been  found 
on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Ronkonkoma.  They  are  common  east- 
ward. 

14  Wigwams  and  shell  heaps  from  Brookhaven  westward  near 
the  shore. 

15  Village  of  the  Secatogues  about  a  mile  southwest  of  Islip  near 
Olympic.  Thence  there  are  shell  heaps  westward  to  the  county 
line. 

16  Unkechaug  village  on  the  outer  angle  of  the  point  three  miles 
southeast  of  Brookhaven.  Thence  lodge  sites  and  shell  heaps 
extend  east  and  west.  Thompson  says  that  the  Secatogues  had 
their  chief  village  on  Secatogue  neck  and  that  the  Patchogues  had 
their  principal  settlements  at  Patchogue,  Fireplace,  Moriches,  Mastic 
and  Westhampton.  Mr  Tooker  says  that  the  Patchogues  were 
properly  Unkechaugs. 

17  Passing  over  scattered  shell  heaps  along  the  shore  there  was 
a  fort  and  a  cemetery  about  midway  between  Southampton  and 
Shinnecock  Flills.  West  of  this  are  numerous  lodge  sites  for  some 
miles  along  the  shore. 


150  ^         NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

18  Lodge  sites  on  two  small  coves  on  the  south  shore  of  Peconic 
bay. 

19  Large  village  site  with  graves  at  Sag  Harbor. 

20  Fireplaces  and  a  refuse  heap  at  Hogonock  a  little  northwest 
of  Sag  Harbor.    Bone  implements  and  pottery. 

21  Not  far  southwest  of  Sag  Harbor  was  a  large  village  site 
where  all  kinds  of  arrowheads  were  found.  On  a  lodge  site  one 
and  one  half  miles  away  all  were  triangular.  On  another  two  miles 
off  all  were  stemmed. 

22  At  Three  Mile  harbor  the  earth  on  the  west  side  is  white  with 
shells  which  were  used  in  making  wampum.  There  are  some  on 
the  east. " 

23  The  Sachem's  hole  half  way  between  Sag  Harbor  and  East 
Hampton  marked  the  spot  where  Poggatacut's  head  rested  in  165 1 
when  his  body  was  set  down  on  the  way  to  the  grave.  The  hole 
was  feet  deep  and  wide  and  was  kept  clear  by  the  Indians  for 
nearly  two  hundred  years. 

24  A  recent  cemetery  in  the  southeast  part  of  East  Hampton 
village. 

25  Indian  well  southeast  of  Amagansett  and  near  the  shore. 

26  Fort  of  1 661.    This  was  on  Nominick  hill  near  Napeague. 

27  Two  workshops  south  of  Fort  pond. 

28  Earthwork  and  ditch  on  the  northeast  side  of  Fort  pond  on 
Fort  hill  in  Montauk.  It  was  100  feet  square  with  a  round  tower 
of  earth  or  stone  at  each  corner. — Prime,  p.  91-92.  Mr  Tooker 
reported  this  as  180  feet  on  each  side  and  as  very  recently  obliter- 
ated. There  was  a  cemetery  near  and  thence  'came  a  stone  foot- 
mark now  in  the  collection  of  the  Long  Island  historical  society. 

Sullivan  county.  As  in  much  of  the  Algonquin  territory  there 
are  no  large  sites  here  and  few  of  the  smaller  have  been  reported. 
It  is  supposable  that  the  name  of  Indian  Field  pond  in  Bethel  refers 
to  marks  of  occupation.  French  in  his  gazetteer  says  there  were 
frequent  traces  of  occupation,  including  trails,  early  and  recent 
relics. 

I  There  were  Indians  at  Mamakating  hollow  in  1700. — French, 
p.  642 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF  NEW  YORK 


2  "On  Big  island  two  miles  above  Cochecton  was  an  extensive 
burial  place  of  which  traces  are  occasionally  plowed  up  at  the  pre- 
sent day." — French,  p.  644 

3  Indian  cemetery  and  village  near  Burlingham. — Schoonmakcr, 
p.  40.    Abandoned  Oct.  4,  1663.    Near  the  county  line. 

Tioga  county.  For  nearly  all  the  sites  along  the  Susquehanna 
thanks  are  due  A.  F.  Barrott  of  Owego.  Le  Roy  J.  Tappan  of 
Newark  Valley  furnished  several  on  Owego  creek. 

1  A  site  of  two  acres  on  Peter  Caryl's  farm  northwest  of  Candor 
and  on  Catatonk  creek.    Pottery  and  stone  articles. 

2  Camps  on  G.  H.  Thomas's  farm  west  of  creek  half  way  between 
Weltonville  and  West  Newark.    Early  reHcs. 

3  Camp  on  west  bank  of  Owego  creek  two  miles  north  of  Newark 
Valley. 

4  Camp  a  mile  north  of  the  same  place  on  both  sides  of  the 
creek.    Many  fireplaces  and  early  relics.    Long  occupation. 

5  Mr  Tappan  reported  many  mounds  near  Newark  Valley  which 
he  hoped  to  explore.    Fine  relics  were  found  five  miles  from  there. 

6  Mound  one  mile  south  of  Newark  Valley  near  the  east  bank 
of  Owego  creek  with  early  relics  in  and  around  it. 

7  Early  cafnps  on  Luke  Fleming's  farm  east  of  Flemingville  and 
on  the  south  bank  of  East  Owego  creek.  Potstone  dish  and 
earthenware. 

8  Camps  on  George  Burt's  farm  north  of  Catatonk  and  east  of 
Catatonk  creek.  Pottery  and  early  relics.  In  the  Historical  gazet- 
teer of  Tioga  county  it  is  stated  that  the  Onondagas  had  a  fort  on 
this  creek  at  the  settlement  of  Candor.    This  may  be  doubted. 

9  There  was  a  cemetery  on  the  lands  of  J.  Piatt  and  C.  F.  John- 
son in  the  town  of  Tioga  on  the  top  of  the  cliffs  on  the  west  bank 
of  Owego  creek. — Gay,  p.  476 

10  Hamlet  on  John  Fleming's  farm  south  of  Flemingville  and 
east  of  the  creek.    Abundant  pottery. 

11  Camps  on  Bert  Farnham's  farm  north  of  Scandlesville  and 
east  of  the  creek.  Early  relics  and  pottery.  Camps  on  land  of 
James  Nelson  south  of  Scandlesville  and  in  forks  of  Catatonk  and 
Owego  creeks.  Early  relics.  Old  cemetery  on  George  Brown's 
land  southwest  of  the  same  place.    Pottery  and  shells. 


152 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


12  Early  camps  on  G.  H.  Pumpelly's  land,  north  of  Owego  and 
east  of  the  creek.    Pottery  and  stone  relics. 

13  Recent  relics  and  skeletons  west  of  Owego  creek  and  village. 
Also  the  whole  of  Owego  from  the  upper  end  of  Front  street  to 
the  D.  L.  &  W.  railroad  bridge.  Stone  relics,  potstone  and  earthen- 
ware. Piles  of  mussel  shells  also.  Some  recent  relics.  There  were 
graves  and  a  burial  mound.  The  village  of  1779  was  west  of  the 
creek. 

14  Spanish  hill  is  at  Waverly  but  on  or  over  the  Pennsylvania 
line  and  is  nearly  obliterated.  Accounts  are  conflicting,  some  claim- 
ing an  outer  and  inner  line.  There  was  a  cemetery  at  the  base  of 
the  hill.  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  thought  this  the  town  of  Carantouan 
occupied  in  161 5.    It  has  been  mentioned  by  many. 

15  Camps  west  of  Smithboro  and  north  of  the  river.  Flakes  and 
earthenware  over  several  acres.  Also  a  village  site  on  Coreall's 
flats  north  of  the  river.    Recent  relics. 

16  Village  on  Mr  Middaugh's  land  southwest  of  Smithboro  and 
south  of  the  river.    Fireplaces  and  potstone. 

17  Camps  east  of  Smithboro  and  north  of  the  river,  with  others 
south.  Early  relics.  Also  west  of  Nichols  and  south  of  the  river 
many  fireplaces  were  unearthed  by  the  washing  of  the  bank.  Fine 
pottery  and  some  bone  articles. 

18  A  cemetery  and  village  site  on  Mr  Johnson's  land  south  of 
the  river  and  northeast  of  Nichols.  Stone  implements  and  orna- 
ments with  pottery. 

19  Village  site  on  George  IngersolFs  land  south  of  Tioga  Ferry 
and  the  river.  Fireplaces,  stone  implements  and  soapstone  orna- 
ments. On  the  south  side  of  the  river  opposite  no.  24,  is  a  large 
village  site  probably  with  camps.  Early  articles  with  pottery  and 
soapstone.  On  William  Lounsbcrry's  land  east  of  Tioga  Ferry 
is  another  site  with  grooved  pebbles. 

20  On  Charles  Smith's  land  are  camps  east  of  Canfield  and  south 
of  the  river.  Ground  flint  articles.  Camps  on  WilHam  R.  Louns- 
bcrry's land  east  of  Lounsberry  and  south  of  the  river.  Grooved 
pebbles  and  celts.  Others  south  of  Canfield  and  the  river  with 
great  quantities  of  flakes  and  little  else. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  1 53 

21  Camps  on  G.  H.  Pumpelly's  land  south  of  Owego  and  the 
river.  Early  relics.  Also  others  on  his  land  southeast  of  Owego. 
Between  the  D.  L.  &  W.  railroad  bridge  and  the  creek  were  early 
articles  with  two  copper  implements.  On  George  Nichols's  land 
east  of  Owego  and  south  of  the  river  are  camps  with  arrow  and 
spearheads  and  great  quantities  of  flakes. 

22  Large  and  early  village  site  on  Serene  La  Monte's  land. 
Many  relics.  Mr  Barrott  says,  "  50  years  ago  tent  rings  could  be 
seen  the  entire  length  of  three  fields." 

23  Early  camps  on  j\Ir  Brown's  land  north  of  Nichols  and  the 
river  have  a  little  pottery  with  stone  relics. 

24  A  camp  southwest  of  Tioga  Center  and  north  of  the  river 
has  early  relics  and  abundant  earthenware. 

25  There  was  a  camp  similar  to  the  last  northeast  of  Tioga  Center. 
Some  camps  are  included  in  this  number  on  Hardman  Cole's  land 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  northeast  of  Canfield,  with  others 
on  George  Ferguson's  land  north  of  that  place.  On  the  former 
were  stone  mortars  and  soapstone  vessels. 

26  Camps  on  Mr  Bauer's  land  west  of  Canfield  and  north  of  the 
river.    Early  relics  with  earthenware. 

27  A  large  village  site  on  Henry  Tillbury's  land  north  of  the 
river  and  east  of  Nanticoke  creek.  Many  relics  and  some  gouges. 
Another  farther  west.  Camps  on  Frank  Tillbury's  farm  north  of 
river  and  Apalachin  ferry.    Early  relics. 

28  Two  sites  north  of  the  river  and  east  of  Apalachin  ferry  with 
many  and  varied  early  relics. 

29  South  of  Hiawatha  island  and  near  Nanticoke  creek. 
Earthenware.  Also  a  camp  east  of  Hiawatha  ferry  and  the  creek. 
Like  the  last. 

30  Opposite  Campville  and  west  of  the  ferry  on  Gen.  B.  F. 
Tracey's  land.    Much  earthenware  with  clay  pipes. 

31  Village  site  on  Mr  Catlin's  land  east  of  the  mouth  of  Ap- 
alachin creek.    Abundant  earthenware  and  some  glass  beads. 

32  The  remaining  sites  were  reported  by  Percy  L.  Lang  and  are 
in  the  west  part  of  the  county.  A  camp  half  a  mile  northwest  of 
Waverly.  There  are  several  villages  and  cemeteries  near  Waverly 
and  south  to  Tioga  Point. 


154  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

33  Two  cemeteries,  a  village  and  camp  are  north  of  the  river  and 
near  the  state  boundary  line.   These  are  above  W averly. 

34  A  village  and  two  camps  are  on  the  south  side  of  the  river. 
They  range  from  the  state  boundary  line  to  two  and  one  half  miles 
north  of  it. 

35  There  is  a  camp  site  on  the  east  side  of  Cayuta  creek,  three 
miles  north  of  Waverly. 

36  A  camp  west  of  Cayuta  creek  is  at  the  mouth  of  Miller  run. 

37  A  camp  east  of  this  creek  is  half  a  mile  north  of  Lockwood. 

38  There  are  two  camps  south  of  the  river  at  Barton  and  a  ceme- 
tery half  a  mile  west  of  the  village.  Two  miles  southwest  are  two 
villages  and  a  camp. 

Numbers  39  to  41  are  omitted  through  an  error  in  adding  the 
following  notes  which  were  sent  by  Percy  L.  Lang. 

42  A  village  east  of  the  river  and  north  of  the  state  boundary  line 
had  stone  implements.  There  was  also  a  camp  farther  north  con- 
taining pottery,  and  an  early  village  and  cemetery  were  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river. 

43  There  was  a  village  at  the  north  end  of  Manghatamanga  flats 
and  east  of  the  river.    Another  camp  was  farther  down  the  stream. 

44  A  cemetery  north  of  the  river  was  half  a  mile  west  of  Barton. 
Some  camps  were  on  the  same  side  of  the  stream  and  east  of  that 
village. 

45  There  were  camps  south  of  Barton  and  others  farther  south- 
west. The  general  indications  are  of  a  shifting  population  all  along 
the  Susquehanna.  Ease  of  access  to  the  soapstone  quarries  of 
Pennsylvania  accounts  for  frequent  articles  of  that  material,  while 
some  articles  which  occur  in  the  northeastern  counties  of  New 
York  are  almost  unknown  there.  Frequent  grooved  axes  show 
also  the  presence  of  southern  visitors,  in  Tioga  county. 

Tompkins  county,  i  In  the  winter  of  1883-84  13  skeletons  were 
reported  to  have  been  exhumed  in  Groton.  They  were  placed  in 
a  circle  with  their  feet  to  the  center,  a  comparatively  recent  mode. 
Pipes  and  shell  beads  were  found  but  the  location  was  indefinite. 

2  There  were  graves  on  Fay  Townley's  farm  in  South  Lansing 
but  no  relics  were  with  the  skeletons. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF   NEW  YORK 


3  In  his  History  of  Cortland,  Mr  Goodwin  said  there  was  a  small 
village  at  the  mouth  of  Taghkanic  creek  which  escaped  the  atten- 
tion of  Sullivan's  men  and  also  one  six  miles  southwest  near  Water- 
burg. 

4  A  fort  and  cemetery  were  reported  by  Daniel  Trowbridge  in 
Ulysses  half  a  mile  from  ^^'aterburg.  There  was  a  bank  and  three 
TOWS  of  palisades.  The  relics  were  early  Iroquoian — Smithsonian 
report,  1864.  This  was  half  a  mile  west  of  Waterburg  the  bank 
being  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  The  cemetery  was  on  the 
south  side.  A  skeleton  was  dug  up  a  mile  east  of  Waterburg. — 
Child.  Directory,  1868-69.  It  is  in  the  west  part  of  Tompkins 
county  half  a  mile  east  of  the  county  line  and  a  mile  northeast  of 
Perry  City  on  the  farms  of  Messrs  Hart  and  Sherwood.  The  road 
passes  through  it. — Amer.  ant.  1897.  Fig.  81  is  F.  E.  Her- 
rick's  plan  in  that  paper.  It  is  singular  in  its  combination  of  a 
wall  and  lines  of  palisades  and  seems  to  be  about  500  by  350  feet. 

5  A.  F.  Barrott  reported  another  fort  on  a  bluff  on  Parker 
Wixom's  land,  with  a  wall  crossing  the  bluff  east  and  west.  This 
was  nearly  three  miles  southeast  of  the  last. 

6  Another  fort  was  two  miles  south  of  no.  4,  east  of  the  creek 
and  opposite  Caleb  Wixom's  house.  Mr  Barrott  reported  this  as 
circular  but  with  a  prolongation  of  the  wall  15  rods  southerly  from 
the  south  gate.  It  is  on  a  bluff.  Mr  Herrick  described  it  as  an 
immense  early  village.  Besides  no.  4,  Mr  Trowbridge  spoke  of 
three  other  forts  within  three  miles,  which  he  did  not  describe.  One 
is  unnoticed  here.    Fig.  86  is  from  a  sketch  by  Mr  Barrott. 

7  Coreorgonel  was  a  small  village  burned  in  1779,  west  of  Cayuga 
inlet  on  high  ground  and  two  miles  south  of  Ithaca. — Sullivan,  p. 
77.  There  are  recent  burial  places  at  Coreorgonel  and  also  north 
of  Buttermilk  falls  and  on  the  bluff  near  Dr  Parker's,  Fast  hill. — 
Dudley.  "  Where  Ithaca  now  stands  were  found  cleared  fields 
which  had  previously  been  cultivated  by  the  Indians." — French,  p. 
655.  The  Tedarighroones  were  adopted  by  the  Cayugas  in  1753 
and  settled  at  the  head  of  Cayuga  lake  which  thence  had  the  name 
of  Totieronno.  It  has  been  thought  that  Poney  Hollow  was  a 
-contraction  from  the  Saponies  who  may  have  lived  there. 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Ulster  county.  S.  L.  Frey  says  of  this  county,  "  It  is  a 
country  of  abundant  streams  and  that  it  was  occupied  for  a  long 
time  by  aboriginal  tribes  is  clearly  shown  by  the  abundant  relics. 
The  indications  however  are  that  there  was  no  long  residence  at 
any  one  point.  There  are  no  beds  of  debris,  ashes,  coal,  bones, 
etc.,  such  as  are  found  on  the  sites  of  Iroquois  villages."  The 
people  were  Algonquins  and  of  different  habits  from  the  interior 
nations.  They  raised  corn  but  often  changed  their  homes.  There 
were  several  bands  of  these  called  by  various  names  but  generally 
known  as  the  Esopus  Indians,  who  lived  in  the  valleys  or  near 
the  Hudson  river.    They  are  famous  for  their  wars  with  the  Dutch. 

1  On  a  map  of  the  Catskill  region  issued  by  the  West  Shore 
railroad  in  1893  Indian  graves  are  indicated  between  West  Sauger- 
ties  and  Quarry ville. 

2  Rev.  Dennis  Wortman  reports  two  village  sites  near  Sauger- 
ties. 

3  There  were  cornfields  near  Wagondale  and  Sagerskill. — 
Sylvester,  p.  57 

4  Several  clearings  and  orchards  were  known  in  Olive  at  an 
early  day.  On  the  farm  of  Benjamin  Turner  was  a  cemetery. 
Early  relics  are  frequently  found. — Sylvester,  p.  301 

5  Site  at  Glasco. 

6  The  Esopus  Indians  around  Kingston  were  sometimes  called 
Warynawaucks. — Schoonmaker,  p.  3.  There  was  an  inscribed  stone 
at  Esopus  Landing  and  a  village  site  near  Kingston  Point. 

7  There  was  a  village  and  cemetery  at  Ponckhockie. 

8  An  Indian  fort  called  Wiltmeet  is  supposed  to  have  been  in 
Marbletown. — Schoonmaker,  p.  15.  In  that  town  Mr  Louis  Bevier 
has  fine  relics  found  on  his  farm. — Frey 

9  There  was  a  town  at  the  junction  of  Rondout  and  Vernoey 
kills  at  Wawarsing.  Arrowheads,  etc.  were  found  there. — Schoon- 
maker, p.  35.  The  grand  council  house  of  the  Esopus  Indians  was 
there  and  thus  several  trails  met— Sylvester,  p.  22 

10  In  the  Esopus  war  of  1659  the  Indians  had  corn  at  Le  Fevre's 
falls  in  Rosendalc.  This  was  on  the  flat  owned  by  Timothy  F. 
Tilson. — Sylvester,  p.  42 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  157 

11  There  was  a  village  in  a  strong  place  nine  miles  above  this 
either  in  Rochester  or  Wawarsing. — Sylvester,  p.  42.  Schoonmaker 
places  this  in  Rosendale  at  the  same  distance. — Schoonmaker,  p.  17 

12  The  fort  of  1663  was  at  Kahanksen  in  Wawarsing  four  miles 
east  and  near  the  Rochester  line.  It  was  on  the  south  side  of 
Rondout  creek  just  north  of  Shurter  hill. — Schoonmaker,  p.  36 

13  Henry  Booth  reports  an  early  village  site  with  relics  a 
mile  south  of  New  Paltz,  on  the  Wallkill. 

14  Another  is  at  Libertyville. 

15  Another  is  on  the  Wallkill  near  Tuthilltown. 

16  The  new  fort  in  the  Esopus  war  was  in  Shawangunk  on  the 
east  bank  of  Shawangunkkill  two  miles  south  of  Bruynswick  post- 
office.  It  was  on  a  sandy  plateau  on  Matthew  Jansen's  land  75  feet 
above  the  river.  Arrowheads,  etc.,  are  found. — Schoonmaker,  p.  37. 
A  two  hours'  march  from  the  site  of  the  Shawangunk  church  along 
the  Hooge  Berg. — Sylvester,  p.  56 

Warren  county.  This  was  mainly  a  land  of  passage  with  many 
camps  and  few  villages. 

1  Toward  the  head  of  Lake  George  on  Dunham's  bay  was  a  small 
camp  and  another  on  Van  Wormer's  bay  with  but  few  relics.  Most 
of  these  sit^s  are  mentioned  in  the  History  of  the  town  of  Qneensbury, 
by  A.  W.  Holden  but  more  definite  notes  were  furnished  by  Rev. 
O.  C.  Auringer  of  Troy,  N.  Y. 

2  Abundant  relics  occur  at  "  Old  Bill  Harris's  camp,"  Harrisena. 
There  are  several  small  sites  along  the  creek  leading  to  Dunham's 
bay.  Early  relics,  but  Holden  says  that  they  are  miostly  recent 
in  Queensbury. 

3  Queensbury  or  Oneida,  and  Round  pond.  Several  small  sites 
along  a  small  creek  and  pond  extending  over  a  square  mile.  Early 
reHcs  and  an  unexplored  mound  in  a  creek  bottom. 

4  Glen  lake  or  Long  pond  and  outlet.  Several  sites  in  an  area 
of  one  and  one  half  miles  east  along  the  outlet.  Early  relics.  One 
small  site  on  the  south  side  of  the  pond. 

5  Head  of  Glen  lake  and  inlet,  Meadow  run.  Large  site  on  high 
ground. 


■58 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


6  Meadow  run  and  Glendon  brook.  A  large  and  early  village 
site  with  some  smaller  ones. 

7  Big  bend  at  the  rifts  of  Hudson  river.  Two  opposite  sites 
historic  and  prehistoric,  covering  about  six  acres  and  having  many 
relics.  Fragments  of  pottery  are  scattered  all  over  the  county  on 
both  sides  of  the  Hudson.  A  copper  spear  and  stone  implements 
were  found  at  West  mountain. 

Washington  county.  Like  the  last,  this  was  a  land  of  passage 
and  there  are  many  trails  and  scattered  implements  old  and  recent. 
Relics  have  been  found  in  or  about  Cambridge,  Salem  and  Fort 
Miller  but  without  notes  of  sites. 

1  Site  east,  of  Cossayuna  lake  with  fine  reHcs. 

2  A  similar  small  site  near  Cambridge. 

3  Several  interesting  sites  near  Smiths  Basin  south  of  Fort  Ann, 
with  much  debris  and  some  large  caches  of  chipped  implements. 

Wayne  county.  Few  distinct  sites  have  been  found  in  this 
county  but  articles  occur  along  the  trails  near  Lake  Ontario  and 
elsewhere. 

1  An  oval  earthwork  inclosing  about  five  eighths  of  an  acre  is 
on  Fort  hill,  a  conspicuous  spot  a  mile  south  of  Savannah  village. 
The  gate  is  at  the  north  end  and  there  is  a  large  cache  within. 
Fragments  of  pottery  abound.  Fig.  82  is  a  plan  of  this  small  work, 
the  long  axis  of  which  is  about  256  feet  from  center  to  center  of 
the  ditch.    It  has  not  been  before  described. 

2  Many  articles  occur  along  Crusoe  creek. 

3  There  were  one  or  more  Indian  villages  in  Galen.  There  are 
several  fireplaces  on  Joseph  Watson's  farm  near  Clyde  and  many 
relics  have  been  found. — Cozvles,  p.  252.  A  large  mortar  half  a 
mile  east  of  the  last  on  A.  Snedekar's  place  near  the  Roman  catholic 
cemetery.    Arrowheads  are  found.    These  are  near  the  Clyde  river. 

4  Arrow  and  spearheads  are  found  in  Butler. 

5  An  early  site  of  some  size  three  miles  northeast  of  Wolcott 
village  and  near  the  railroad. 

6  A  few  arrowheads  and  celts  have  been  found  at  Sodus  Point. 
On  W.  E.  Sill's  land  half  a  mile  south  of  this  the  writer  found  two 
lodge  sites  and  some  relics  but  nothing  was  seen  all  along  the  bay. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


7  A  recent  grave  was  found  a  mile  north  of  Wolcott  in  1894 
on  the  Thacker  farm. 

8  A  stone  mortar  was  dug  up  near  the  custodial  asylum  in 
Newark. 

Westchester  county.  This  county  was  well  stocked  with  Al- 
gonquin tribes^  and  these  and  the  sites  have  been  quite  fully  re- 
ported in  Bolton's  History  of  Westchester  from  which  most  of  these 
notes  are  taken. 

1  An  old  fort  and  village  were  near  Annsville  in  Cortlandt. — 
Bolton,  I  158.  Sachus  or  Sackhoes  was  a  village  at  Peekskill. — 
Bolton,  1 184 

2  The  Kitchawanks  were  near  the  Croton  and  north  to  the  High- 
lands. In  Cortlandt  at  the  entrance  of  the  neck  proper  was  the 
castle  of  Kitchawan. — Bolton,  1  :84.  This  was  on  Senasqua  neck, 
now  called  Croton  point.  The  castle  was  west  of  the  V^an  Cort- 
landt cemetery  and  a  burial  place  used  in  1641  was  east. — Bolton, 

1  :ig6.  In  August  1899,  Mr  Harrington,  of  the  Museum  of  natural 
history,  New  York,  discovered  the  earthwork  at  Croton  point.  It 
is  low  but  well  defined.  He  found  four  skeletons,  but  no  relics  of 
value. 

3  Early* relics  and  skeletons  have  been  found  on  Oscawana  island 
and  on  the  neighboring  shores. — Bolton,  1:180 

4  The  principal  village  in  Yorktown  was  on  Indian  hill,  600 
feet  above  the  north  bank  of  Lake  Magrigaries  now  Mohegan 
lake,  on  the  east  side  of  the  hill. — Bolton,  2:661.  The  cemetery  was 
on  the  south  side  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  town  was  the  Indian 
cemetery  of  Amawalk. — Bolton,  2:662 

5  There  was  a  village  on  Crane's  lake  or  on  the  rocky  ridge  of 
Croton  river  in  Somers,  with  lodges  on  most  streams  and  high 
grounds.    Some  were  on  the  east  side  of  Angle  Fly  brook. — Bolton, 

2  :252 

6  A  cemetery  at  Wood's  bridge  at  the.  junction  of  Plum  brook 
and  Croton  river  in  this  town. — Bolton,  2:252 

7  Cemetery  on  the  road  from  Boutonville  to  Bedford  beyond 
Wepuc  stream. — Bolton,  i  :396 

8  Another  west  of  the  bridge  between  South  Salem  and  Cross 
river. — Bolton,  i  :396 


l6o  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

9  Nanichiestawack  was  on  the  south  side  of  Indian  hill,  Bedford. 
It  was  the  scene  of  the  fight  of  1644  and  mounds  existed  there  in 
1765, — Bolton,  1:7.  A  traditional  burial  place  was  in  the  present 
Bedford  cemetery. — Bolton,  1  40 

10  Cemetery  on  an  island  in  a  swamp  northwest  of  the  road  from 
Ridgefield  to  Bedford  but  in  Lewisboro,  The  Indian  well  is  on 
the  east  line  of  the  town. — Bolton,  i  :395.  At  Cohansey  in  Bedford, 
Indians  lived  during  the  colonial  period.  Potamus  ridge  near 
Beaver  Dam  river  was  occupied  in  1692. — Bolton,  1:4 

11  Pequot  mills  are  in  the  woods  on  Smith's  ridge.  There  are 
many  circular  mortars  in  the  rocks  and  a  stone  mound  is  near. 
Early  relics  are  frequent  on  Lake  Waccabuck  in  the  north  part  of 
Lewisboro. — Bolton,  1 1396.  Farther  north  in  North  Salem  was  a 
village  of  1656  and  a  cemetery  northw^est  of  the  manor  house.  Vast 
quantities  of  spear  and  arrowheads  are  found  on  the  high  grounds. — 
Bolton,  I  734 

12  There  was  a  village  in  Lewisboro  near  the  state  line. — Bolton, 
1:395.  Many  relics  have  been  found  about  Cross  pond,  on  the  east 
side  of  which  there  was  a  stone  mound. — Bolton,  1 1394 

13  Indian  pound  was  at  the  foot  of  a  high  ridge  south  of  the 
present  village  of  Poundridge.  It  was  an  inclosure  for  game. — 
Bolton,  2:103.  There  was  an  old  cemetery  at  the  foot  of  Stony 
hills. — Bolton,  2:124 

14  A  village  on  Chappaqua  hills  in  New  Castle  and  another  on 
the  south  bank  of  Roaring  brook.  An  Indian  cemetery  was  near 
the  last  with  early  relics. — Bolton,  1 :565 

15  Recent  lodges  and  cemetery  on  the  south  side  of  Kirby's  pond 
at  New  Castle  Corners. — Bolton,  i  :566 

16  Stockade  in  North  Castle  a  little  south  of  Armonck. — Bolton, 
I  :697 

17  The  principal  village  here  was  on  the  north  side  of  Rye  pond. 
Extensive  shell  beds  with  many  relics.  Villages  also  on  Armonck 
and  Byram  lakes  and  a  cemetery  near  Wampus  pond. — Bolton,  i  :6gS 

18  The  Sint  Sincks  lived  in  the  town  of  Ossining  and  had  a  vil- 
lage at  Sing  Sing  in  the  17th  century —Bolton,  2:9.  There  was  a 
village  in  this  town  between  Sing  Sing  and  Croton. — Bolton,  2:2 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


i6i 


19  In  the  town  of  Mount  Pleasant  behind  the  old  Dutch  church 
at  Sleepy  Hollow  were  several  mounds  and  a  fort. — Bolton,  1 1506 

20.  The  village  of  Alipconck  in  1659  was  at  the  south  end  of 
Tarrytown  on  a  hill  where  there  were  deep  shell  banks. — Bolton, 


21  Three  castles  were  described  at  Wetqueschek  in  1642.  This 
was  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream  at  Dobbs  Ferry  and  in  the  vicinity. 
There  are  deep  shell  banks.  But  one  castle  remained  in  1663. — ■ 
Bolton,  1 1259 

22  In  1746  there  was  a  village  in  Greenburg  on  Mr  McChain's 
farm  and  one  on  Indian  hill. — Bolton,  1  -.260 

23  There  were  lodge  sites  and  a  cemetery  in  White  Plains  and 
also  a  mortar  cut  in  the  rock. — Bolton,  2:535 

24  In  Yonkers  there  were  village  sites  on  the  Nepera. — Bolton, 
2  : 576.  A  cemetery  two  miles  north  of  Yonkers  on  Blackwell's  hill, 
and  another  at  the  entrance  of  Sprain  valley,  with  scattered  graves 
elsewhere. — Bolton,  2:577-78 

25  A  Mohegan  stockade  on  Berrian's  neck  and  a  cemetery.^"^ — 
Bolton,  2  :578. 

26  Extensive  shell  beds  in  West  Farms  on  the  East  and  Harlem 
rivers  witl^  burial  mounds  near  Gouverneur  Morris's  residence. — 
Bolton,  2:4^1 

27  In  the  town  of  West  Chester  the  principal  village  was  on 
Castle  Hill  neck  and  at  Bear  swamp.  There  was  a  cemetery  on  the 
southeast  side  of  Spicer's  neck  and  many  shell  heaps  on  the  East 
river. — Bolton,  2  '.264 

28  The  castle  of  the  Sinamon  Indians  was  on  a  hill  in  the  village 
of  East  Chester  and  there  were  lodges  on  a  neighboring  stream. 
Vast  quantities  of  early  rehcs  have  been  found  in  the  town. — Bolton, 
I  :202.  There  are  supposed  stone  foot  marks  in  the  southeast  part. 
— Bolton,  1 :247.  A  village  site  with  graves  has  been  reported  north- 
east of  old  East  Chester  church  on  the  banks  of  East  Chester  creek. 
— Smith 

29  Vast  numbers  of  shell  beds  and  stone  relics  have  been  found 
in  Pelham.  The  favorite  burial  place  of  the  Siwanoys  was  at  the 
entrance  of  Pelham  neck.  Numerous  mounds  occur  but  most  are 
recent.    Some  are  early  and  have  quartz  arrowheads  and  pottery. — 


1:294 


1  Berrian's  neck  is  now  in  New  York  county. 


l62  NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

Bolton,  2 136.  On  the  extreme  point  in  Pelham  was  another  cemetery 
with  quantities  of  arrowheads.  There  was  a  venerated  stone  on 
Hunter's  island  and  a  large  workshop  west  of  Pelham  Priory. — 
Bolton,  2  137 

30  Davenport's  neck  in  New  Rochelle  was  covered  with  wigwams 
in  1746  and  there  are  extensive  shell  beds  along  the  shore  with 
scattered  hamlets  elsewhere.  There  is  a  quartz  quarry  and  curious 
relics  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. — Bolton,  1 

31  In  ]\Iamaroneck  was  the  village  of  Kitchawanc  on  the  project- 
ing rocks  opposite  Heathcote  hill  near  Mamaroneck  bay.  The 
cemetery  was  northeast  of  this.  There  were  extensive  works  on  the 
high  ground  north  of  the  hill  forming  long  ridges  with  correspond- 
ing depressions.  There  were  four  circular  pits  and  a  mound  on  the 
south  with  other  works  on  the  wxst  side  of  the  hill. — Bolton,  i  1464 

32  The  principal  JMohegan  village  was  at  or  near  Parsonage- 
point  in  Rye.  A  cemetery  was  near  this  on  Burying  hill  and  there 
were  many  scattered  graves,  and  sites  in  the  town. — Bolton,  2  : 128. 
Abundant  remains  and  shell  heaps  occur  on  Peningoe  neck  in  this 
town. — Baird,  p.  20.  A  cemetery  was  opened  on  the  bank  of  Blind 
brook  in  1855  and  other  graves  in  1867  on  the  other  side.  These 
were  old. — Baird,  p.  193.  Several  small  villages,  rock  mortars  and 
early  rehcs  occur  along  the  shores  of  Rye. — Baird,  p.  194 

33  There  was  a  village  with  shell  heaps  at  the  south  end  of 
Manursing  island. — Baird,  p.  193 

A  village  has  been  reported  at  Bullock's  landing  and  probably 
many  have  never  been  distinguished.  There  is  very  little  earthen- 
ware, but  shell  heaps  are  too  numerous  to  be  specified.  The 
abundance  of  sea  food  and  the  ease  of  communication  made  this  a 
very  populous  district. 

34  A  shell  heap  at  Throgs  Neck  near  Schuylerville  in  the  town  of 
West  Chester.    Both  early  and  very  modern  relics. 

35  Small  triangular  arrowheads  are  frequent  near  the  shore  at 
Larchmont  park.  The  additional  notes  were  supplied  by  M.  Ray- 
mond Harrington  of  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y. 

36  Camp  at  the  forks  of  Mamaroneck  river.  Another  northeast 
of  this,  on  the  same  stream  and  near  a  high  rock,  four  miles  north  of 
Mamaroneck  station.    Arrowheads  at  both. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION   OF   NEW  YORK 


•63 


37  David's  Island  has  yielded  many  arrowheads.  A  grave  or  pit 
on  Hunter  island  had  some  fine  articles,  including  a  circular  orna- 
ment of  mica.  On  this  island  are  several  shell  beds,  one  of  which  is 
covered  at  high  tide.    Arrowheads  are  frequent. 

38  A  small  village  site  at  the  end  of  Davenport's  neck,  had 
grooved  axes,  celts,  arrowheads  and  mortars  and  a  little  pottery. 

39  There  are  many  shell  beds  along  Hutchinson  river  and  Pel-- 
ham  bay,  on  the  east  shore.  One  of  these  is  some  distance  up  the 
river.  A  group  of  six  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  railroad 
bridge,  and  they  are  about  12  feet  across  and  a  foot  high.  Another 
group  still  farther  south,  extends  along  the  east  shore  of  the  bay 
below  the  foot  bridge,  for  about  200  feet.  The  group  includes  a 
village  site.  South  of  a  cove  in  the  bay  is  an  unexplored  shell  bed.- 
Beyond  this  a  small  one  with  arrowheads  and  pottery.  At  the  end 
of  the  point  is  a  cemetery.  ]\Iuch  farther  north  and  on  the  east  side 
of  the  point  is  another  cemetery,  three  fourths  of  a  mile  south  of 
Bartow  station.  The  graves  were  on  two  knolls,  about  50  feet  in 
diameter.  A  shell  heap,  40  feet  across,  lies  behind  the  largest.  A 
field  by  a  small  stream,  half  a  mile  north  of  Bartow  station,  has 
several  shell  beds.  A  great  variety  of  relics  has  been  found  there. 
A  small  fiei<!f,  south  of  this  and  near  it  has  many  relics,  and  a  shell 
bed. 

40  On  the  west  side  of  Pelham  bay,  at  the  mouth  of  a  brook  one 
and  one  half  miles  south  of  Bay  Chester  station,  are  shell  beds. 

41  Camp  of  2  acres  on  Hutchinson  river,  a  mile  south  of  Pelham- 
ville  station.  There  are  but  few  shells,  but  many  stone  relics.  A 
very  small  but  similar  site  is  opposite. 

42  A  shell  bed,  50  feet  in  diameter,  is  a  mile  south  of  Rye  station, 
on  the  wesi  bank  of  Blind  brook.  It  has  pottery  and  argillite  arrow 
and  spearheads. 

Mr  Plarrington  furnished  notes  on  some  sites  already  mentioned, 
but  these  may  be  summarized  in  order.  At  Dobbs  Ferry  (4)  and 
Irvington  he  had  seen  shell  beds.  Byram  lake  (22)  has  been  raised 
and  some  land  overflowed,  but  arrowheads  still  occur.  Rye 
pond  has  also  been  raised,  while  Kirby  pond  has  been  drained.  On 
Teller's  point,  at  the  end  of  Croton  neck,  were  two  very  large  and 


164 


^    NEW  YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 


deep  shell  beds,  the  larger  with  few  relics,  and  the  smaller  with 
many.  There  was  a  village  on  the  Bronx  river,  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  Bronxville  station,  (28)  which  had  fine  relics,  including 
pottery.  A  large  shell  bed  was  west  of  and  opposite  the  south  end 
of  Hunter  island,  (29)  and  had  many  interesting  relics.  A  series  of 
shell  beds,  forming  a  large  village  site,  was  north  of  this,  and  op- 
posite the  north  end  of  Hunter  island.  A  great  variety  of  rehcs.  A 
large  shell  bed  (31)  is  on  the  north  shore  of  Delancey's  neck,  Mamar- 
oneck.  Another  similar  bed  is  northeast  and  opposite,  on  Rye 
neck,  in  Rye.  A  village  (33)  was  between  Beck's  Rye  beach  and 
Oakland  beach.  Pottery  and  arrowheads.  Another  camp  on  the 
neck  just  south  of  Parsonage  point,  with  similar  relics.  On  these 
sites  pottery  is  frequent,  as  well  as  hammer  stones  and  net  sinkers. 
Polished  stone  is  not  common,  and  many  articles  are  entirely  lack- 
ing. Pipes  are  very  rare,  but  fine  articles  were  not  likely  to  be  lost 
in  shell  beds  or  heaps.  The  use  of  shells  in  graves  has  features  of 
interest. 

Wyoming  county.  i  On  the  northwest  side  of  the  Genesee  a 
mile  or  two  above  the  falls  was  a  work  on  a  small  but  high  hill  first 
described  in  1808.  The  small  hill  south  of  Portage  mentioned  by 
Squier  is  the  same. — Squier,  p.  63.  Mr  Reynolds  described  it  as  a 
circular  work  four  and  one  half  miles  south  of  Portage.  A  mound 
was  on  the  flats  25  rods  north  of  this.  J.  S.  Minard  of  Fillmore 
furnished  the  writer  with  plans  of  this,  one  of  which  is  given  in  fig. 
83.  The  work  is  oblong,  inclosing  one  and  three  fourths  acres, 
and  is  on  lot  107  of  the  Cottringer  purchase,  town  of  Genesee  Falls. 
A  plan  appears  in  a  report  of  the  U.  S.  bureau  of  ethnology,  1890-91. 

2  Gadao  was  in  Castile  near  the  outlet  of  Silver  lake. — Morgan, 
p.  435.    It  was  commonly  called  Gardeau. 

Yates  county,  i  A  noted  work  was  on  Bare  hill,  lot  70,  Middle- 
sex. It  was  about  1000  feet  above  the  east  shore  of  Canandaigua 
lake.  It  has  never  been  figured  and  but  slightly  described.  The 
fallen  stones  of  the  wall  have  been  scattered,  but  the  ditch  remains 
inclosing  one  acre.  The  fort  is  a  little  north  of  Vine  Valley.  It  is 
the  early  fort  of  Seneca  traditions  but  there  are  few  indications  of 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  165 

occupancy.  The  great  serpent  ate  all  the  people.  It  seems  the  fort 
usually  referred  to  Naples  at  the  head  of  the  lake. 

2  The  "  Old  fort  "  in  Shearman's  hollow  was  a  prehistoric  earth- 
work near  the  schoolhouse  on  lot  48,  Jerusalem. — Cleaveland,  p.  449- 
50.  It  was  near  Friend  on  the  north  line  of  the  town  and  was  a 
rectangle  of  two  acres.  Pottery  occurs  there  and  a  large  stone 
mortar  was  found.  Dr  S.  H.  Wright  however  reports  it  as  a  stock- 
ade with  two  trenches  and  many  openings.  There  was  a  cemetery 
near. 

3  A  valley  southeast  of  Italyhill  was  much  frequented  and  three 
artificially  grooved  boulders  were  found  on  Mr  Paddock's  farm. 
This  was  a  mile  southeast  of  that  village. 

4  An  Indian  village  and  orchard  were  a  few  rods  south  of  Italy 
Hollow.  Another  village  and  orchard  were  a  mile  north  of  the 
Big  Elm  in  the  same  valley. 

5  Grooved  boulders  occur  in  Guyanoga  valley  about  one  and  one 
half  miles  from  Branchport.  A  cemetery  is  near  these  on  D.  W. 
Dickinson's  land. 

6  There  are  graves  on  the  Ellsworth  farm  half  a  mile  northeast 
of  Branchport. 

7  A  burial  mound  and  cemetery  with  mostly  modern  relics  near^ 
have  been  described  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Keuka.  Several 
circular  structures  of  sandstone  were  on  the  east  side  of  the  outlet 
near  the  lake. — Cleaveland,  p.  715 

8  Graves  on  lot  43,  ]Milo,  on  the  Thayer  place  near  the  lake  are 
mentioned  in  this.  Early  and  recent  relics.  Probably  the  same  as 
an  old  work  on  lot  34,  which  is  three  and  three  fourths  miles  south 
of  Penn  Yan  and  less  than  a  mile  east  of  the  lake.  It  occupied  about 
six  acres  and  had  one  trench.  There  was  a  large  cemetery  toward 
the  lake. 

9  Bones  and  mica  were  found  in  a  mound  on  the  west  side  of 
Bluff  Point  about  two  miles  from  its  southern  end. 

10  Dr  S.  H.  Wright  fully  described  and  illustrated  some  curious 
remains  on  lots  5  and  6,  Bluff  Point,  eight  miles  south  of  Penn  Yan. 
He  called  it  a  system  of  graded  ways  but  so  unlike  any  New  York 


i66 


^  NEW  YORK  STAJ  E  MUSEL'M 


work  that  farther  examination  should  precede  opinion.  The  area 
is  seven  acres  and  there  are  no  rehcs. — Regents,  2^th  report,  p.  193 

11  An  old  work  was  on  lot  104,  Benton,  four  miles  northwest  of 
Penn  Yan. 

12  The  Kashong  site  is  near  Bellona  on  the  line  of  Ontario 
county  and  near  Seneca  lake.  There  are  early  and  recent  ceme- 
teries.   An  early  one  is  north  of  Earl's  station  and  toward  the  lake. 

13  Early  and  recent  cemeteries  occur  at  Dresden  on  Seneca  lake. 

14  An  early  site  is  reported  at  the  mouth  of  Big  Stream  on  the 
same  lake. 

These  notes  were  partly  furnished  by  Dr  S.  H.  Wright  and 
Miles  A.  Dayis.    With  few  exceptions  the  relics  are  Iroquoian. 


Mr  Squier  gave  37  plans  in  his  account  of  the  antiquities  of  New" 
York.  Over  50  more  are  included  here  and  others  might  be 
obtained  by  prompt  action.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  descrip- 
tions of  these  had  to  be  made  so  brief.  Many  deserve  much  fuller 
treatment,  such  as  they  may  receive  at  a  later  day.  On  so  small  a 
scale  the  location  of  sites  could  not  be  precise,  nor  could  appro- 
priate symbols  be  used.  For  future  and  enlarged  work  of  this  kind 
it  is  fortunate  that  there  is  now  much  material  available  in  notes  and 
larger  charts.  Could  all  the  notes  of  local  antiquarians  be  even  now 
placed  together  they  would  form  a  collection  of  incalculable  value. 
It  is  hoped  that  this  preliminary  survey  may  stimulate  work  of  this 
kind.  Town  and  county  maps  of  Indian  sites  are  greatly  desired 
from  all  parts.  Simple  and  accurate  descriptions  will  greatly  in- 
crease their  value.  It  is  a  work  worthy  of  the  attention  of  every 
scientific  and  historical  society  in  New  York,  and  of  every  earnest 
antiquarian. 

A  few  words  on  this  important  work  may  be  said  in  conclusion. 
In  giving  the  location  of  sites  of  any  kind,  a  county  atlas  will  be 
found  useful,  as  the  town  plans  allow  the  assignment  of  all  to  farms 
as  well  as  town  lots.  This  seems  the  best  way  to  make  a  personal 
record  of  field  work  when  it  can  be  done.  In  some  cases  topo- 
graphic maps  of  the  New  York  surveys  can  be  had  at  Albany,  which 
will  be  found  well  adapted  for  such  work.    Where  the  atlas  is 


ABORIGIN'AL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


employed  a  tracing  or  a  transfer  to  a  map  on  a  smaller  scale  may 
be  used  for  transmission.  Where  mere  descriptions  are  made  it 
will  be  well  to  note  the  town  lot,  the  distance  and  direction  from 
some  village,  stream  or  road,  the  space  occupied  and  the  length 
of  occupation,  which'  is  often  indicated  by  the  depth  of  fireplaces 
and  the  blackness  of  the  soil.  The  character  and  abundance  of 
articles  are  also  often  matters  of  the  highest  importance.  The 
position  of  bodies  in  sepulture  may  be  noted,  and  the  absence  or 
presence  of  articles  of  any  kind.  In  some  cases  peculiar  stones 
alone  were  placed  with  the  dead,  and  the  mode  of  burial  varied 
greatly.  Instances  of  overlying  or  inclosing  stones  should  be 
particularly  described. 

In  either  descriptions  or  surveys  of  defensive  works  it  should 
be  stated  whether  they  were  stockades,  or  had  a  bank  and  ditch. 
]\Iuch  confusion  has  arisen  from  lack  of  care  in  this,  many  stockades 
having  been  described  as  earthworks,  the  narrow  and  shallow 
trench  in  which  the  pickets  were  placed  appearing  as  a  ditch. 
Dimensions  should  be  given  of  all  works  when  possible,  and  in 
earthworks  it  should  be  specified  whether  the  measurements  are 
to  the  ditch  or  wall.  The  number,  position  and  width  of  gates  are 
matters  of^mportance. 

In  examining  mounds  or  graves  it  is  well  to  have  a  camera  at 
hand,  to  photograph  sections  of  the  mounds  or  the  arrangement  of 
bodies  or  bones  in  burial.  Some  of  the  very  few  remaining 
mounds  in  western  Xew  York  should  be  thus  carefully  examined 
by  an  expert.  The  work  should  not  be  superficial  but  excavation 
should  be  carried  down  to  undisturbed  earth,  and  every  point  of 
interest  noted.  With  similar  care  many  old  village  sites  may  yet 
yield  valuable  results.  The  plow  throws  out  much  for  a  time  but 
does  not  reach  the  bottom  of  long  used  fire  places.  These  may 
have  a  depth  of  several  feet,  and  in  the  ashes,  fine  and  early  bone 
implements  are  often  preserved  in  all  their  pristine  beauty.  In 
fact  very  few  of  these  will  be  obtained  without  the  use  of  the  spade. 
\\  here  there  ar^^  steep  banks  near  a  fort  or  village  one  or  more 
dumping  places  of  refuse  will  usually  be  found.  Amid  the  bones, 
ashes  and  coals,  many  broken  or  perfect  articles  may  appear. 


1 68  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

It  would  be  easy  to  enlarge  on  this,  but  hints  like  these  are  to 
be  made  as  simple  and  practical  as  possible.  The  experienced 
antiquarian  will  not  require  them  in  his  wider  knowledge.  Simple 
and  easily  understood  they  will  be  found  helpful  by  many  who 
have  had  fewer  opportunities.  When  practised  they  will  transform 
the  mere  collector  into  a  promoter  of  historic  science.  He  will 
no  longer  be  execrated  by  some  leaders  in  the  field  as  a  hindrance 
rather  than  an  aid  to  clearer  knowledge,  but  he  will  become  one 
of  the  helping  hands  without  which  wise  heads  can  do  little 
or  nothing.  The  knowledge  gained  will  be  accurate  and  wide- 
spread, and  in  the  end  will  lead  to  valuable  results.  How  much 
such  workers  are  needed  may  be  seen  in  the  very  limited  reports 
from  some  counties.  How  much  can  be  accomplished  by  men  who 
are  busy  in  other  ways  appears  in  some  of  those  found  elsewhere. 
For  all  the  aid  they  have  given  him,  others  may  well  unite  with 
the  writer  in  returning  most  hearty  thanks  to  these  painstaking 
helpers  in  the  task  of  obtaining  a  clearer  knowledge  of  aboriginal 
history. 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  1 69 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATES 

Page  numbers  refer  to  fuller  descriptions  in  bulletin. 

FIG.  Plate   1  PAGE 

1  Work  in  Auburn,  Cayuga  co   36 

2  Stockade  in  Ledyard,  *'    39 

3  Earthwork  in  Sinclairville,  Chautauqua  co   46 

4  Work  near  Cassadaga  creek,  "    47 

5  Elliptic  work  in  Ellington,  "    48 

6  Large  circular  work  between  Fredonia  and  Forestville, 

Chautauqua  co   44 

7  Fort  near  Belmont,  Allegany  co   30 

Plate  2 

8  Burial  mound,  Conewango  township,  Cattaraugus  co.  . . .  33 

9  Work  near  Cassadaga  creek,  Chautauqua  co   47 

10  Circular  work  on  Elm  creek,  near  East  Randolph,  Cat- 

taraugus CO   33 

11  Small  work  in  the  town  of  Mentz,  Cayuga  co   36 

12  Stockade  in  Ledyard,  Cayuga  co.  .  .   38 

13  Elliptic  fvork  in  ElHngton,  Chautauqua  co   49 

Plate  3 

14  Earthwork  near  Belvidere,  Allegany  co   29 

15  Work  near  Cattaraugus  creek,  Cattaraugus  co   32 

16  Circular  work  on  south  side  of  Allegany  river,  Catta- 

raugus CO   34 

17  Works  in  South  Stockton,  Chautauqua  co   46 

18  Earthwork  in  Randolph  village,  Cattaraugus  co   33 

Plate  4 

19  Angular  work  near  Ellington,  Chautauqua  co   48 

20  Line  of  fortifications  near  east  shore  of  Cassadaga  lake, 

Chautauqua  co   44 

21  Mounds  at  Griffith's  point  in  Ellery,  Chautauqua  co.  . .  .  45 

22  Circular  work  in  Carrollton,  Cattaraugus  co   34 

23  Work  southwest  of  Elmira,  Chemung  co   50 


I  JO  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


FIG.                                                                Plate    5  PAGE 

24  Works  near  the  mouth  of  Mill  Brook,  Delaware  co   59 

25  ^lound  near  Cattaraugus  creek,  Erie  co   65 

26  Mound  and  excavation  near  Cattaraugus  creek,  Erie  co .  .  65 

27  Small  work  near  Lancaster  village,  Erie  co   63 

28  Eartliwork  near  Clarence,  Erie  co   62 

29  Earthwork  on  Buffalo  creek  near  Buffalo,  Erie  co   62 

Plate  6 

30  Fort  in  Newstead,  Erie  co   63 

31  Semicircular  work  on  Cattaraugus  creek,  Erie  co   65 

32  Earthwork  near  Clarence,  Erie  co   62 

33  Circular  work  near  Clarence,  Erie  co   62 

34  Stockade  near  Sammonsville,  Fulton  co   67 

35  Small  work  near  Lancaster  village,  Erie  co.   63 

36  Curious  work  in  Lancaster,  Erie  co   63 

'  Plate  7 

37  P'ortification  at  Fort  Hill,  near  Le  Roy,  Genesee  co   69 

38  Old  fort  in  Oakfield,  Genesee  co   68 

39  Small  work  on  south  side  of  Rutland  hollow,  Jeffer- 

son CO   76 

40  Work  in  Adams,  Jeffe'rson  co.   76 

41  Earthwork  in  Ellisburg,  Jefferson  co.  . .   77 

42  Work  near  Burr's  Mills,  Jefferson  co   76 

Plate  8 

43  Earthwork  near  Watcrtown,  Jeft'erson  co   75 

44  Circular  work               "              "   75 

45  Fortification  in  Le  Ray               "    74 

46  "                         -    74 

47  Small  work  on  south  side  of  Rutland  hollow,  Jefferson  co.  76 

48  Earthworks,  northwestern  part  of  Rodman,  Jefferson  co.  77 

Plate  9 

49  Earthwork  in  the  town  of  Watertown,  Jefferson  co   76 

50  Earthwork  near  Burr's  Mills,  Jefferson  co   75 

51  Earthwork  near  Pierrepont  Alanor,  Jefferson  co   77 


ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATIOX  OF  NEW  YORK  171 

FICx.  rA(.E 

52  Fortification  in  Le  Ray,  Jefferson  co   74 

53  Work  in  Le  Ray,  Jefferson  co   74 

54  Work  near  Sanfords  Corners,  Jeft'erson  co   75 

Plate  10 

55  Stockade  near  Livonia,  Livingston  co   82 

56  Elliptic  work  on  lot  29,  near  Ovid,  Seneca  co   146 

57  Mounds  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  ^lonroe  co   96 

58  Fortification  near  Livonia,  Livingston  co   82 

59  Stockade  near  Perryville,  ^ladison  co   89 

60  Stockade  west  of  Cazenovia  village,  jNIadison  co   87 

Plate  11 

61  A^illage  in  the  town  of  ^[endon,  [Monroe  co   98 

62  Small  fort  on  lot  81,  near  Elbridge,  Onondaga  co   118 

63  Stockade  near  Janiesville,  Onondaga  co   122 

64  Earthwork  on  lot  70  in  Elbridge,  Onondaga  co   118 

65  Fortification  on  lot  84  near  Elbridge,  Onondaga  co   119 

Plate  12 

66  Fort  nejy  Canandaigua,  Ontario  co   128 

67  Circular  work  near  Shelby  Center,  Orleans  co   132 

68  Stockade  on  Fort  hill,  5  miles  northwest  of  Geneva,  On- 

tario  CO   129 

69  Stockade  near  Geneva,  Ontario  co   129 

70  Semicircular  work  near  Ogdensburg,  St  Lawrence  co.  .  .  .  140 

71  Circular  work  on  lot  24,  Granby,  Oswego  co   133 

72  Fortifications  in  ?\Iacomb,  St  Lawrence  co   140 

Plate  13 

73  Earthwork  in  the  town  of  Minden,  Montgomery  co   104 

74  Stockade  near  Delphi,  Onondaga  co   124 

75  Stockade  near  Baldwinsville,  Onondaga  co   116 

76  Circular  stockade  near  Delphi,  Onondaga  co   124 

77  Stockade  near  I'onipey  Center,  (  )nondaga  co   123 

78  Fort  near  ^'ictor,  Ontario  co   126 

79  Earthwork  near  Geneva,  Ontario  co   129 

\ 


172  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

FIG.                                  Plate  14  PAGE 

80  Earthwork,  Rossie,  St  Lawrence  co   141 

81  Fort  in  Ulysses,  near  Waterburg,  Tompkins  co   155 

82  Oval  earthwork  near  Savannah  village,  Wayne  co   158 

83  Work      miles  south  of  Portage,  Wyomiing  co   164 

Plate  15 

84  Indian  earthwork  near  Cattaraugus  creek,  Cattaraugus  co.  31 

85  Earthwork  east  of  Cattaraugus  creek,  Erie  co   65 

86  Fort  in  Ulysses  2  m.  s.  w.  of  Waterburg,  Tompkins  co.  .  155 

87  Fortification  near  Pompey  Center,  Onondaga  co   124 

Plate  16 

88  Fort  near  Dansville,  Livingston  co   85 

89  Mounds  near  the  Onondaga  outlet  in  Geddes,  Onondaga 

CO   116 

90  Circular  work  in  Ellington,  Chautauqua  co   48 

91  Fort  at  Racket  River  near  Massena,  St  Lawrence  co.  . .  .  139 


I 


II 


IN  DEX 


The  superior  figures  tell  the  exact  place  on  the  page  in  ninths;  e.  g.  ii' 
means  page  ii,  beginning  in  the  third  ninth  of  the  page,  i.  e.  about  one 
third  of  the  way  down. 


Adams,  works  in,  76*. 

Adiquatangie,  59^ 

Adirondack  lakes,  sites  near,  72^ 

Adirondacks,  hunting  grounds  of 
Five  Nations,  66\  72^ 

Alabama,  works  in,  68\ 

Albany,  ceremonial  objects  from,  28'; 
cleared  land,  28^;  fort,  29'. 

Albion,  relics  found  in,  I32^ 

Algonquins,  territory  occupied  by, 
II^  15^  22*,  24^  26^;  in  Greene 
CO.,  71*;  in  Rensselaer  co.,  138";  in 
Ulster  ccy,  156^;  in  Westchester  co., 

159*. 

Alipconck,  i6i\ 
Allegheny  river,  34\ 
Amagansett,  Indian  well,  I50^ 
Amawalk,  159^ 

Amber,  relics  found  near,  I2i\ 
Amenia,  cemetery,  6o\ 
Amity,  forts,  29*. 
Amityville,  fort  near,  I05^ 
Amsterdam,  cache,  103';  paintings' on 

rocks,  105';  sites  near,  105'. 
Andagoron,  I05^ 

Andastes,  territory  occupied  by,  15^, 
Angelica,  earthworks  in,  29^ 
Annsville,  sites,  iio\  I59^ 
Antones,  53\ 
Antouhonorons,  50^ 
Aquebogue,  cemetery  near,  149^. 
Armonck  lake,  160'. 


Assereawe,  I02^ 

Asserue,  102*. 

Assinisink,  147^. 

Astoria,  relics  found  in,  138'. 

Attiwandaronks,  territory  occupied 

by.  11^  io7\ 
Auburn,  works  near,  36°-37°. 
Augusta,  sites,  ml 
Aurelius,  site  of  Indian  village,  37^ 
Auriesville,  village  site,  I04^ 
Aurora,  site  of  Indian  village,  39'; 

stockade  near,  39^ 
Ausable  river,  57'. 
Authorities  referred  to,  6-10. 
Avoca,  site,  147*. 
Avon,  work  in,  8I^ 

Baldwin's  creek,  51'. 

Balwinsville,  sites,  114',  115^ 
Banagiro,  I02^ 
Barton,  camps,  154'. 
Batavia,  sites  near,  68',  7o\ 
Bear  castle  of  1642,  105". 
Beardstown,  S3\ 

Beauchamp,  W.  IM.,  Cnondaga's  cen- 
tennial, 18";  report  on  Huron-Iro- 
quois territory,  18'. 

Bedford,  cemetery,  159";  sites,  i6o\ 

Beekman,  relics  found  in,  60*. 

Belleville,  fort  near,  yy*. 

Bellmore,  lodge  sites,  105'. 

Bellona  site,  i66\ 


174  ^'EW  YORK  « 

Belmont,  forts,  29^ 

Belvidere,    Seneca   village   at,  29'; 

forts,  29^ 
Bemiis  point,  sites,  45*. 
Benton,  site,  i66\ 
Bergen,  cemetery,  7i\  99^ 
Bergen  island,  shell  heaps,  8o^ 
Berne,  relics  found  in,  28^ 
Bethel,  village  near,  58^ 
Bethlehem,   arrowheads   from,  27°; 

ceremonial  objects  from,  28\ 
Bibliography,  6-10. 
Big  Choconiit  creek,  3i\ 
Big  Flats,  Indian  village,  5ol 
Big  Indian  creek,  3-1^  32". 
Big  Salmon  creek,  village  site,  40*. 
Big  Stream,  site,  i66l 
Big  Tree,  83'. 

Binghamton,  relics  found  near,  3I^ 
Birch  creek,  140". 
Black  lake,  i4o\ 
Black  river,  8o^ 

Black  river  village,  fort  near,  74'. 
Blodgett  Mills,  site,  58*. 
Blooming  Grove,  site,  131". 
Bluff  point,  relics  found  at,  36*. 
Bolton,   Robert,   History  of  Wes't- 

chester  co.,  18'. 
Boston,  French  axes  found  in,  64'. 
Boundaries,  14*. 
Boutonville,  cemetery,  159'. 
Brainard,  site,  I39\ 
Branchport,  cemetery  near,  165'. 
Brant,  Joseph,  home  of,  73*^. 
Breakabeen,  site,  I44\ 
Brewerton,  camps,  117*,  133^,  133', 
Bridgeport,  site  near,  117''. 
Bristol,  sites,  128'. 

Broadalbin,  arrowhcncU  found  near, 

67^ 

Brocton,  roadways  near,  41"'. 
Brookhaven,    wigwams    and  shell 

heaps,  149". 
Brooklyn,  relics  found  in,  8o". 


TATE  MUSEUM 

Brotherton  Indians, 
Brownsville,  ossuary  near,  74^ 
Brutus,  supposed  fort  in,  35'. 
Bucklin's  corners,  47^ 
Buffalo,  sites,  61^;  relics,  65'. 
Burlingham,  cemetery  and  village, 
151'. 

Burrell  creek,  126^  i29'-30". 
Burr's  Mills,  sites  near,  75^,  76'. 
Buskirk  Bridge,  site  near,  is8\ 
Butler,  arrow  and  spearheads,  I58^ 
Butternut  creek,  112°,  i36\ 
Byram  lake,  i6o^  I63^ 

Cahaniag'a,  102'. 

Caledonia,  93^^;  relics  found  in,  8o^ 
Cambria,  mound,  fort  and  cemetery, 
io8'-9". 

Cambridge,  relics  found  in,  I58^ 

Canjeron,  camps,  147^ 

Canadaway  creek,  431 

Canaenada,  126^,  i3o\ 

Canagara,  103°. 

Canagere,  loi*,  I02^ 

Canagora,  126^  I29^ 

Canajohari'e,  Indian  sites,  73*,  loi*, 

i02^-3\  1041 
Canajorha,  102'. 

Canandaigua,  sites,  I2/*,  127',  i28\ 
Canandaigua  lake,  128^  130',  1641 
Canarsie,  shell  heaps,  80^. 
Canarsies,  territory  occupied  by,  13', 

79^ 

Canaseraga,  89^ 

Canaseraga  creek,  sites  on,  83^  84*, 

85^  85°,  86^ 
Canastota,  site,  92". 
Canawaugus,  81",  83'. 
Candor,  sites  near,  151^. 
Caneadea,  Seneca  village.  29*. 
Canifiield,  camps  near,  I52^  153*. 
Canisteo.  site.  147^  stockades.  I47^ 
Canisteo  Indians,  85^ 
Canisteo  river,  147*. 


INDEX  TO  ABORIGINAL   OCCUPAlluN   OF  NEW  YORK 


Canoga,  birthplace  of  Red  Jacket, 

I45^ 

Canoga  creek.  145'. 
Canohage.  13J'. 
Canopus  Indians.  I37^ 
Canowaraghere.  89^ 
Canowarode,  loi^. 

Capitanasses.  territory  occupied  by, 

12\  15'. 
Carantouan,  I5j\ 
Carantouanis.  49^-5o\ 
Carenay.  i02\ 
Carlton,  i3i"\ 

Carrollton,  circular  work,  34^ 
Carthage,  village  site,  75". 
Cassadaga  creek,  43^  47". 
Cassadaga  lake,  44''. 
Cassel  of  Taregiorus,  I04^ 
Castile,  site,  164". 
Castile  creek,  fort  on,  35". 
Castle  creek,  location,  31', 
Cat,  nation  of  the,  42*,  ioy\ 
Catatonk,  camps,  151°. 
Catatonk  creek,  I5I^ 
Catharii*,  location,  I44^ 
Catharine  creek,  50^ 
Cato.  Onondagas  in,  36^ 
Catskill,  sites  near,  57^,  jr. 
Catskill  creek,  28'. 

Cattaraugus  creek,  31^  32",  35",  64'- 
65^ 

Caughdenoy,  133". 
Cawaoge,  IOI^ 

Cayadutta  creek,  stockade,  67°. 

Cayuga,  Indian  village,  35';  relics 
found  near,  37^ 

Cayuga  Castle,  38°,  39\ 

Cayuga  island,  109°. 

Cayuga  lake,  Frontenac  island,  38". 

Cayugas,  territory  occupied  by,  I2\ 
I5^  35*.  67\  140',  144';  one  of  the 
Five  Nations.  24**;  in  St  Lawrence 
CO.,  140';  in  Seneca  co.,  144'. 

Cayuta  creek,  154'. 


Cazenovia  creek,  63^  66\ 
Cazenovia  lake,  sites  near,  87^ 
Cazenovia  village,  sites,  87^-88*. 
Cemeteries,  16",  20^-2i\  24\ 
i  Champlain,  fort  attacked  by,  88^ 
Champlain  valley,  dwelling  sites,  54°. 
Chapinville.  relics  found  at,  130'. 
Charlotte  ferry,  94\ 
Charlotte  river,  59^  135'. 
Charlton,  cache  of  flints,  I42\ 
Chaumont,  fishing  camps,  78^ 
Chautauqua  lake,  42^  44^  45-. 
Chemung,  location,  51^;  sites  near, 

5I^ 

Chenandoanes,  83°. 

Chenango,    aboriginal  occupation, 

Chenango  canal.  52'. 

Chenango  Forks,  Indian  village,  30^ 

53^  camp  sites,  31°. 
Chenango  river,  53^  54^ 
Cheney,  A.  T.,  paper  on  earthworks, 

i8\ 

1  Chenussio,  83'. 
I  Cherry  Valley  creek,  136",  136'. 
I  Chili,  mound,  93*. 
;  Chittenango  creek,  86^  92',  117'. 
Choharo,  Z7^- 

Chonondote,  an  Indian  town.  39^ 
Chugnutts,  location,  30^ 
Churchville,  cemetery  in,  99^ 
Cicero,  camps,  117*. 
j  Cincinnatus  creek,  no*. 
I  Clarence,  works  near,  62^-6f. 
Clark,  J.  S.,  credit  due,  18^;  maps 

prepared  by,  125'. 
Clark,  J.  V.  H.,  description  of  earth- 
works. 17". 
j  Clarksville,  camps,  28^ 
j  Clayton,  fort  near,  73'. 
Clear  creek,  works  on,  47^-48',  48"- 
49'. 

Clifton  Springs,  sites,  126^-27*. 


176 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Clinton,  Gov.  De  Witt,  memoir  on 

N.  Y.  earthworks,  17'. 
Clinton,  skeletons  found  near, 
Clyde,  site,  158'. 

Cochecton,  burial  place  near,  151'. 
Cohoes,  Mohawks'  fishing  place,  28*, 

I42^ 

Colchester,  Indian  village,  581 

Cold  Spring,  mound  in,  33";  sites 

near,  137^;  Matinecocks  at,  I48^ 
Cold  Spring  creek,  33',  34*. 
Cole's  brook,  581 

Colliersville,  sites  near,  135'^;  camp, 
I36^ 

Condawhaw,  144^. 
Conestogas,  I5^ 
Conesus,  location,  82^ 
Conewango,  burial  mounds,  32^ 
Conihunto,  location,  54^ 
Con-nugh-harie-gugh-harie,  142'. 
Conquest,  relics  found  near,  36\ 
Cooperstown,  relics  found  in,  134^. 
Copake,  site  in,  57^ 
Corchaugs,    territory   occupied  by, 

Coreorgonel,  155^ 

Corlaer,  see  Van  Corlaer. 

Corning,  relics  found  near,  I47^ 

Cornplanter,  birthplace  of,  8I^ 

Cortlandt,  site,  I59^ 

Cough-sa-ra-ge,  72®. 

Craig  colony  lands,  sites  on,  86^ 

Cranberry  lake,  140'. 

Crane's  lake,  159^  . 

Crooked  lake,  138". 

Cross  lake,  36',  114'. 

Cross  river,  159®. 

Croton  point,  earthworks,  159'. 

Crown  Point,  66*. 

Crusoe  creek,  I58^ 

Cutchogue,  sites,  149'. 

Cuylerville,  site,  83'-83* 

Bans  Kammer,  131*. 


Dansville,  site,  85*. 
Danube,  Indian  castle,  73'. 
Davenport's  neck,  162^  I63^ 
David's  Island,  163^. 
Day,  cemetery,  141^. 
Dayton,  burial  mound,  32\ 
Deansville,  Indians  in,  III^ 
Deerfield,  lodge  sites,  III^ 
Defensive  works,   descriptions  and 

surveys,  167*. 
Delaware  river,  58*-59^ 
Delawares,    territory   occupied  by, 

59";  in  Steuben  cc,  I47^ 
Delphi,   sites   near,   88^;  stockade, 

I24^ 

Denning's  point,  relics  found  at,  66'. 
Deonundagaa,  83'. 

Depauville,  fort  and  cemetery,  73®; 

relics  found  near,  78^ 
Descriptions,  suggestions  for,  167^. 
Dewittville,  cemetery  at,  45'. 
Ditches,  descriptions,  167*. 
Dobbs  Ferry,  161^,  163^. 
Doty,  L.  L.,  History  of  Livingston 

county,  18*. 
Dresden,  cemeteries,  166'. 
Dwellings,  location  of,  22^-23'. 
Dynneganooh,  site,  8o^ 
Dyudoosot,  82^ 
Dyuhahgaih,  location,  82^ 
Dyu-non-dah-ga-seh,  83^ 

Earlville,  relics  found  in,  92*. 
Earthworks,    near    boundaries  of 
New  York,  16^;  of  northern  Ohio, 

2l'-22^; 

of  N.  Y.,  antiquity,  20',  21"; 
builders,  20^-21';  erected  by  Iro- 
quois, 21';  form,  i9''-2o\  23';  in- 
crease 'n  frequency  westward,  23"; 
number,  22^^;  number  built  in  a 
century,  25^;  situation,  20**;  pub- 
lications on,  I7\  19'. 


INDEX  TO  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


East  Aurora,    French   axes  found 

near,  63^;  sites,  64'. 
East  Bloomfield,  sites,  126",  126',  127*. 
East  Cayuga,  location,  39*. 
East  Chester,  sites,  i6i\ 
East  Hampton,  Sachem's  hole,  150''; 

cemetery,  150'. 
East  Randolph,  relics  found  in,  33^ 
East  Syracuse,  skeletons  found  in, 

I20^ 

Eaton,  Oneida  fisheries  near,  92'. 

Edwardsville,  site,  I40\ 

Eight  Mile  creek,  134'. 

Elbridge,  Indians  in,  112^;  earth- 
works, 117^-18*;  sites,  II8®-I9^ 

Elizabethtown,  arrowheads  found  at, 
66\ 

Elko,  Seneca  village,  34*. 

Ellenburg,  sites  near,  56'. 

Ellery,  mounds,  45\ 

Ellington,  works  near,  47^  48*-49\ 

Ellisburg,  ossuaries,  76',  77*. 

Elmira,  sites  near,  50^-51'. 

Ephrata,  site,  67*. 

Erieehrcyions,  42*,  107^ 

Eries,  territory  occupied  by,  11^;  in 

Chautauqua  co.,  41'. 
Erwin,  site,  I47^ 

Esopus  Indians,  15^  59*,  131^  156'. 

Fabius,  stockade,  124*. 
Fayette,  sites,  145',  146^-47^. 
Fayetteville,  Deep  Spring  near,  120'. 
Fenner,  sites  in,  88*. 
Fentonville,    human    bones  found 
near,  49'. 

Figures,  description  of,  see  page  169. 
Fishkill,  cemeteries  and  orchards  in, 
6o». 

Five  Nations,  24*;  territory  occupied 

by,  I2\  22*. 
Flatlands,  shell  heaps,  80'. 
Fleming,  site  of  Indian  village,  39*. 
Flemingville,  camps,  151';  site,  151'. 


Flushing,  sites  in,  137'. 

Fort  Hunter,  village  at,  I05\ 

Fort  Miller,  relics  found  in,  158'. 

Fort  Plain,  site  near,  104'. 

Fox  Ridge,  relics  found  near,  36*. 

Fredonia,  works  near,  42'-43'. 

French  creek,  73°,  78'. 

French  fort  and  mission  of  1656, 

I20\ 

Frewsburg,  skeletons  found  in,  49'. 
Frey,  S.  L.,  description  of  Mohawk 

valley  sites,  i8^ 
Frontenac's  fort,  I20^ 
Fulton,  site  near,  133'. 
Fultonham,  cemetery  near,  143'. 
Fultonville,  site  near,  I05^ 

Gachoos,  territory  occupied  by,  12*, 

15',  50'. 
Gadao,  i64\ 

Gahnyuhsas,  location,  82^ 
Galen,  site,  158'. 
Ganagora,  102*. 
Ga-nah-da-on-twa,  83^ 
Ganasegago,  85*. 
Gandachiragou,  81*. 
Gandawague,  103^ 
Gandougarae,  126^  127^ 
Gannounata,  82'. 
Ganowauga,  I03^ 
Ganundasa,  84'. 
Ganundesaga,  I2g^. 
Gardeau,  164^ 
Gardiner's  bay,  148'. 
Gardiner's  island,  149°. 
Garoga,  Indian  villages,  67'. 
Garoga  creek,  102'. 
Garrettsville,  sites,  136*. 
Gasport,  mound,  109'. 
Gathsegwarohare,  85^ 
Gath-she-gweh-oh,  83'. 
Gaundowaneh,  site  near,  83*. 
Gaustarax,  home  of,  84\ 
Gayagaanha,  location,  38'. 


lyS  '  NEW  YORK  5 

Geddes,  sites,  II6^ 

Geneganstlet  creek,  SS'- 

Genesee  Castle,  83°. 

Genesee  Falls,  site,  164^ 

Genesee  river,  2g*,  81',  94*. 

Geneseo,  83^  sites  in,  83'. 

Genesinguhta,  a  Seneca  village,  34^ 

Geneva,  sites  near,  I29\ 

Genoa,  Sterner  site,  40^;  Indian 
fields,  40^;  graves  near,  4I^ 

Gerritsen's  bay,  148'. 

Gerry,  description  of  site,  45*-46\ 

Gerry  center,  47". 

Gewauga,  location,  38^ 

Glasco,  site,  156^ 

Glenville,  site,  142*. 

Gowanda,  relics  found  near,  32"; 
forts  near,  35', 

Granby,  circular  work  in,  133*. 

Graves,  16',  20^-2i\  24^;  examina- 
tion, I67^ 

Great  Gully  brook,  381 

Great  Valley,  council  house,  34'. 

Greece,  skeletons  found  in,  93\ 

Green  Haven,  cache  found  at,  60*. 

Green  mountains,  inhabited  by  Iro- 
quois, 55'. 

Greenburg,  site,  161^. 

Greene,  burial  mound,  53*;  relics 
found  near,  54^;  camp  sites  near, 
54*. 

Greenport,  sites,  149*. 
Groton,  skeletons  found  in,  154®. 
Groveland,  sites  near,  86^ 
Grovenor  Corners,  camp,  I43^ 
Guilderland,  arrowheads  from,  27®. 
Gunnygunter,  location,  54". 

Hamburg,  relics  found  in,  64^,  64'. 
Hamilton,  camping  ground,  g2\ 
Hammondsport,  camps  and  arrow- 
heads, I47'\ 
Haniptonsburg,  site,  131*. 
Hanover  Center,  fort  near,  49^ 


A.TE  MUSEUM 

Harkness,  site  near,  57^ 

Harris,  G.  H.,  aboriginal  occupation 

of  lower  Genesee  valley,  iS\ 
Havana,  site  near,  144*. 
Hemlock  lake,  82^ 
Hempstead,  shell  heaps,  Io6^ 
Henderson  bay,  76°. 
Henrietta,  site  near,  93';  skeletons 

found  in,  .I00^ 
Herkimer,  site,  73^ 
Hermitage;  85^ 

Hinmansville,  site  near,  133^;  earth- 
work, 134*. 

Hinsdale,  circular  fort,  35\ 

Hofifmans   Ferry,   camp   site,  142^; 
relics  found  near,  I43^ 

Hogonock,  relics  found  at,  150". 

Holland  Patent,  site  near,  II0^ 

Homer,  caches  in,  58'. 

Honeoye,  sites,  I27^ 
'Honeoye  creek,  96^  98^  99^  127*. 

Honeoye  Falls,  sites,  8i^  99^^;  ceme- 
tery near,  81*. 

Hoosick  river,  I38^ 

Horseheads,  sites  near,  50'. 

Hough,  F.  B.,  work  on  N.  Y.  an- 
tiquities, 18'. 

Houghton,    Indian   cemetery  near, 

■  29\ 

Hounsfield,  works,  74^ 

Hudson    River,   history   of  Indian 

tribes,  by  E.  M.  Ruttenber,  16'. 
Hunter,  Old  fort,  71'. 
Hunter  island,  i63\ 
Huntington,  Matinecocks  at,  148*. 
Huron-Iroquois,  see  Iroquois. 
Hutchinson  river,  163^. 

Indian  Castle,  73^,  73', 
Indian  fort,  location,  123', 
Indian  hill,  I23\ 
Indian  ladder,  28*. 
t'lonnontcgo,  102'. 
Irocoisia,  55°. 


INDEX  TO   ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK  J  79 


Irondequoit  bay,  72',  94',  96^ 

Iroquois,  territory  occupied  by,  ii\ 
12',  I5^  22',  24";  date  of  con- 
federacy, 12';  boundaries,  14^,  14®; 
not  descendants  of  mound  build- 
ers, or  early  visitors,  20*;  Five  na- 
tions, 24®;  distinguishing  habita- 
tions, 26'. 

Italyhill,  site,  165'. 

Ithaca,  sites,  155^ 

Jamaica,  occupied  by  Canarsies,  79^; 

site,  137'. 
Jameco  Indians,  137". 
Jamestown,  mounds  near,  49*. 
Jamesville,  fort  near,  35^ 
Jemison,  ]\Iary,  burial  place,  61". 
Jesuit  relations,  referred  to,  35\  37^ 

42',  107'. 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  on  villages  in 
1763,  35^  stockades  built  by,  87', 
121',  143^  fort  built  by,  129-. 

Kaaterskill,  site  near,  71'. 
Kagating^,  grave  of,  135'. 
Kahkwahs,  62^. 
Ka  Kouagoga,  61'. 
Kanadesaga,  I29^ 
Kanagiro,  102'. 

Kanawageas  reservation,  8o^-8i\ 
Kanawlohalla,  location,  5I^ 
Kaneenda  site  of  1700,  II6'-I7^ 
Kanoalohale,  89'. 
Kanuskago,  85*. 

Karathyadirha,  Seneca  village,  29'. 
Kashong.  location,  130',  I66^ 
Kauderback  creek,  I05^ 
Keinthe,  81*,  99'. 
Kendaia.  site,  144',  14s'. 
Kienuka,  fort,  107*. 
Killbuck,  a  deserted  village.  34". 
King  Hendrick,  home  of,  73". 
Kings  Ferry,  cemetery  near,  40*. 
Kingston  Point,  site,  156'. 


Kirkland,    Samuel,    description  of 

forts  in  the  Seneca  country,  17^ 
Kirkland,  Indians  in,  iii*. 
Kitchawanc,  162'. 
Kitchawunks,  159*. 
Knox,  relics  found  in,  28'. 
Kowogconugharie-guharic,  jf. 

La  Concepcion,  gS\ 

La  Fayette,  site,  i2i\ 

Lake  Champlain,  aboriginal  occupa- 
tion, 54'*-57°;  occupation  before 
Huron  war,  55^;  sites,  66*. 

Lake  George,  sites,  i57'-58'. 

Lake  Keuka,  165'. 

Lake  Lamoka,  144'. 

Lake  IMagrigaries,  I59^ 

Lake  Neatawantha,  133", 

Lake  Ontario,  158';  sites  near,  132". 

Lake  Pleasant,  72". 

Lake  Ronkonkoma,  149'. 

Lake  Tichero,  35^ 

Lake  Waccabuck,  160*. 

Lancaster,  works  near,  62^  63'. 

Lansingburg,  site,  I38\ 

Lapeer,  camp  in,  58°. 

Lapinikan,  I07^ 

La  Presentation,  140*. 

Larkin,  Dr  Frederick,  ancient  man 
in  America,  18'. 

Ledyard,  stockade  in,  38^,  39^;  site, 
39";  cemetery,  40^ 

Leeds,  sites  near,  71". 

Leicester,  sites  in,  83*,  83',  84'. 

Lenox,  relics  found  near,  89^ 
church  in,  92*. 

Leon,  burial  mounds,  32';  relics 
found  in,  sf. 

Le  Ray,  sites  in,  74'. 

Le  Roy,  fort  hill,  69';  site  near,  70*. 

Lewisboro,  cemetery  in,  160'. 

Lewiston,  sites  near,  io7''-8'. 

Libertyville,  site,  157'. 

Lima,  works  near,  81'. 

Limestone  creek,  112'. 


l8o  NEW  YOl 

Lindley,  cache,  I48\ 
Little  Ausable  river,  57^ 
Little  Beard's  town,  83'. 
Little  Neck,  relics  found  in,  1371 
Little  Schoharie  creek,  143". 
Littleville,  relics  found  at,  130^ 
Liverpool,  sites  near,  ii6^  ug^. 
Livonia,    stockade,    81^-82^;  works 

near,  82*, 
Lysander,  camps  at,  1131 
Locke,  description  of  site,  40*-4i\ 
Lockport,  stone  mound,  109";  ring 

fort  near,  109^ 
Lockwood,  camp,  I54^ 
Lodi,  cemetery,  146^ . 
Long  Island,  aboriginal  occupation, 

79^-80^;  sites,  106",  137^  148'. 
Long  Island  tribes,  13^ 
Longpoint,  bank  near,  45^ 
Loudonville,  arrowheads  from,  27"- 

28\ 

Lounsberry,  relics  found  near,  152'. 
Lowman,  village  near,  5I^ 

Maoomb,  sites,  140°. 

Madison  lake,  92^ 

Mahikans,  territory  occupied  by,  13', 
I5\  57",  59\  138';  lands  sold  by, 
^5^  27^  fort  at  Albany,  29\ 

Mahopac  Indians,  I37^ 

Mamaroneck,  site,  162'. 

Manchester,  burial  place,  126^ 

Manchester  Center,  village  near,  i3o\ 

Manhassets,  territory  occupied  by, 

I3^ 

Manhattans,  territory  occupied  by, 
13'. 

Manlius,  camp,  86°;  site  near,  I23^ 

Manursing  island,  162°. 

Mapleton,  site,  39*. 

Maps  of  Huron-Iroquois  territory, 
19^;  showing  aboriginal  occupa- 
tion of  N.  Y.,  25''-26';  prepared  by 
J.  S.  Clark,  125';  of  Indian  sites, 
town  and  county,  desired,  166'. 


STATE  MUSEUM 

Marathon,  site,  58'. 
Marbletown,  fort  in,  156'. 
Marcy,  village  site,  iii\ 
Maringoman's  castle,  I3I^ 
Marsapeagues,  territory  occupied  by, 

13^  fort  of,  I05^ 
Marshall,  Indians  in,  III^ 
Martin  Gerritsen's  bay,  148^ 
Martinsburg,  relics  from,  80'. 
Maryland,  camp,  1^6*. 
Maspeths,  home,  I38\ 
Massena,  sites,  139',  141'. 
Massena  Centre,  relics  found  near, 

I4I^ 

Matinecocks,  territory  occupied  by, 

13',  137';  on  Long  Island,  148°. 
Matouwacks,  13'. 
Matteawan  creek,  59',  60'. 
Mecklenburg,  site,  144'. 
Mendpn,  site,  gS\ 
Mentz,  earthwork  in,  36^ 
Merikokes,    territory   occupied  by, 

13',  106*. 
Michigan,  Indian  spring,  I3I^ 
Middleburg,  site,  143°. 
Middlefield,  relics  found  near,  136'. 
Middlesex,  site,  164^ 
Middletown,  Indian  village,  5I^ 
Milan,  site  near,  40^. 
Milford,  sites,  136'. 
Mill  brook,  58'-59'. 
Milo,  grave,  165'. 
Milton  ferry,  village  site,  6o^ 
Minden,  work  in,  i03''-4'. 
]\Iinisink,  village  and  cemetery,  i^i*. 
Minquas,  territory  occupied  by,  I5^ 
Minsis,  territory  occupied  by,  15^ 
Mississauges,  97*. 
Mistucky,  I3I^ 
Moenemines,  138°. 
Mohawk  river,  142*. 
Mohawk  village,  relics  found  near. 

73^ 


INDEX  TO  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


l8l 


Mohawks,  territory  occupied  by,  I3^ 
66'';  one  of  the  Five  nations,  24^; 
first  town,  135";  in  Chenango  co., 
54";  fishing  place  at  Cohoes,  28*, 
142-;  in  FrankHn  co.,  67';  in  Fulton 
CO.,  67*;  in  Herkimer  co.,  73';  in 
Montgomery  co.,  100";  at  Schenec- 
tady, I42^ 

Mohegan  lake,  159°. 

Mohegans,  village,  143'',  162'.  See 
also  jMahikans. 

Mohickanders,  in  Chenango,  3I^ 

Montauk,  earthwork,  i5ol 

Montauks,  13^ 

Montezuma,    earthwork,    36**;  fort 

near,  41^. 
Montgomery,  sites,  I3i\ 
Moravian  mission  of  1740,  59'. 
Morgan,  L.  H.,  map  of  Ho-de-no- 

sau-nee-ga,  14*,  I8^ 
Morris,  sites,  136". 
Moscow,  village  in,  84'. 
Mound  builders,  in  Cattaraugus  co., 

Mounds,#  rare   in  eastern  counties, 

23^;  examinations,  16/^. 
Mount  Morris,  mound,  84^. 
Mount  Pleasant,  site,  i6i\ 
^lumford,  skeletons  found  near,  94^ 
Munnsville,  home  of  Oneidas,  86^ 

90^^;  sites  near,  91*. 
Munseys,  territory  occupied  by,  15", 

I47^ 

Myers,  site,  40'. 

Nanapenahakan,  57*. 
Nanichiestawack,  i6o\ 
Nanticokes,  in  Chenango,  31'. 
Naples,  site,  I28^ 
Napoli,  mound,  33^ 
Nassau,  site,  i^9\ 
Nelliston,  cemetery  near,  102'. 
Nepeague,  fort,  150'. 
Nesaquague,  shell  heaps,  148^ 


Nessaquagues,  territory  occupied  by, 

I3^ 

Neutrals,  territory  occupied  by,  11*, 

107';  towns,  60'. 
New  Berlin,  relics  found  in,  S3°-54'. 
Ncvv'  Castle,  site,  ^6o^ 
New  Paltz,  site,  157". 
New    Rochelle,    Davenports  neck, 

162',  163". 
New  Scotland,  relics  found  in,  28'. 
New  York  city,  sites,  io6'-7\ 
Newark,  stone  mortar  found  near, 

159'. 

Newark  Valley,  mounds  near,  151'. 

Newburgh,  sites,  13 

Ncwstead,  fort,  6f. 

Newtown,  location,  51°. 

Newtown  creek,  I38\ 

Niagara  Falls,  109°. 

Niagara  river,  107". 

Nichols,  site,  152". 

Niles,  earthwork,  4I^ 

Nine  Mile  creek,  121". 

Normanskill,  27'. 

North  Castle,  stockade,  i6o\ 

North  Cayuga,  location,  37^ 

North  Elba,  Indian  occupation,  66". 

North  Hector,  site,  144^. 

North  Tonawanda,  I09^ 

Norwich,  sites  near,  52'. 

Nowadaga,  73^ 

Nun-da-wa-o-no,  128'. 

Oak  Orchard  creek,  i32\ 

Oakfield,  fort,  68\ 

Ogdensburg,  sites,  140*. 

Ohagi,  location,  83^ 

Ohio,  earthworks,  2i'-22\ 

Ohnowalagantle,  142'. 

Old    Town,     Cattaraugus    co..  a 

Seneca  village,  34^. 
Old  Town,   Cayuga   co.,  locatioi;, 

39^ 

Olean,  burial  mound,  34". 


l82 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


Olive,  site,  156°. 

Olympic,  sites,  149*. 

Onaghee,  127',  128'. 

Oneida,  location,  90",  loi^ 

Oneida  Castle,  112^;  location,  89'. 

Oneida  creek,  112*. 

Oneida  lake,  86^  iio^  117*,  I34\ 

Oneida  river,  133^ 

Oneida  stone,  9i\ 

Oneidas,  territory  occupied  by,  I3\ 
15^;  one  of  the  Five  nations,  24", 
at  Canastota,  92^;  in  Chenango  co., 
53";  in  Chugnutts,  30*;  in  Livings- 
ton CO.,  82";  in  Madison  co.,  86^ 
90";  in  Oneida  co.,  109'';  in  Oswego 
CO.,  133^ 

Onekagoncka,  loi*. 

Oneonta,  mound,  135^;  relics  found 
near,  59";  sites,  I36\ 

Onguiaahra,  60',  107". 

Oniagara,  J07*. 

Oniskethau  creek,  camps,  28°. 

Onistade,  location,  82'. 

Onoien,  old  name  of  Cayuga,  35\ 

Onondaga  lake,  ii6^  II9^ 

Onondagas,  territory  occupied  by, 
12',  15',  25';  one  of  the  Five 
nations,  24®;  in  Cato,  36^;  in  Frank- 
lin CO.,  67^;  in  Madison  co.,  89^;  in 
Onondaga  co.,  112"',  I2i^  121°;  in 
Oswego  CO.,  133'';  in  St  Lawrence 
CO.,  140'. 

Onontare,  burial  place,  36'';  Indian 

village,  35'. 
Onontisaston,  60',  I07^ 
Onoquaga,  location,  31*. 
On-ti-ke-ho-mawck,  I39\ 
Oquaga,  relics  found  at,  31". 
Oriskany,  skeletons  found  in,  iii*. 
Osguage,  loi'. 
Ossining,  160". 

Ossuaries,  16',  23',  44',  62°,  74',  76', 
108*. 

Oswegatchie,  work  in,  140*. 
Oswegatchies,  140*. 


Oswego,  camps  and  relics,  134'. 
Oswego  Falls,  Bone  hill,  133';  work 

at,  133°. 
Oswego  river,  113',  133*,  133'. 
Otego,  54';  sites,  I36^ 
Otego  creek,  135". 
Otianhatague,  I32^ 
Otisco  lake,  I2i\ 
Otsdawa  creek,  I36\ 
Otsego  lake,  I34^ 

Otsiningo,    aboriginal  occupation. 

Otstungo  creek,  I03^ 

Ouaroronon,  60°,  mf. 

Ouleout,  relics  found  near,  59*. 

Ounjune,  102°. 

Ovid,  site,  I46^ 

Owaiski,  location,  30'. 

Owasco  lake,  camp  on,  41*. 

Owegb,  camps,  152^  i53\ 

Owego  creek,  151-,  152'. 

Ox  Creek,  site  near,  I33^ 

Oxford,  sites  near,  52''-53^;  home  of 

the  giant,  58\ 
Oyster  bay,  corn  fields,  106^;  sites, 

io6\ 

Pachami,  territory  occupied  by,  13'. 

Pagus  Ondataius,  6r. 

Pagus  Ondiasacus,  6I^ 

Pagus  Ondieronii,  6I^ 

Painted  Post,  relics  found  at,  I47^ 

Palatine,  village,  lOS". 

Palatine  Bridge,  sites  near,  103*. 

Palisades,  24*,  27\ 

Patchogues,  territory  occupied  by, 
I4\  149'. 

Pattersonville,  relics  found  near,  I42\ 
Peach  Orchard,  I44\ 
Peconic  bay,  I49^  i5o\ 
Peekskill,  site,  159'. 
Pelham,  relics  found  in,  i6i'. 
Pelham  bay,  163'. 

Penfield,  fort  in,  97';  site  near,  98'. 


INDEX  TO  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


183 


Penn  Yan,  sites,  iGs'. 
Peqiiots,  graves,  60". 
Perch  lake,  73'. 
Perch  river,  78'. 
Perryville,  sites  near,  88*. 
Peru,  site  in,  57^ 
Phelps,  site,  130*. 
Phillipsville,  see  Belmont. 
Phoenix,  camps,  113',  133^. 
Phoenix   Mills,   relics   found  near, 
136'. 

Pierrepont  Manor,  77\ 

Pine  Plains,  village  near,  59^ 

Piseco  lake,  72*. 

Pittsford.  limestone  boulders,  gS\ 

Plates,  description  of,  see  page  169. 

Plattsburg,  sites,  54°-55\  56'. 

Poggatacut,  150*. 

Point  Peter,  earthwork,  32°. 

Pomfret,  sites,  43^  44^ 

Pompey,  site,   122*,  123';  stockade, 

124^;  cemeteries,  I25\ 
Pompey  Hill,  relics  found  near,  122°. 
Ponckhockie,  village  and  cemetery, 

156'.  ' 

Poolville,  relics  found  in,  92*. 
Port  Washington,  village,  io6\ 
Portage,  site,  164*. 

Portland,  circular  works  and  old 
roadways,  42^ 

Portlandville,  site,  i3S^-3^^- 

Post  creek,  147^. 

Potsdam,  sites,  139*. 

Poughkeepsie,  relics  found  near,  60'. 

Poundridge,  site,  160°. 

Preston  Hollow,  camps. 

Priest,  Josiah,  work  on  American  an- 
tiquities, I7^ 

Quariyville,  graves  near,  156*. 

Racket  river,  i3g\ 
Racquetteville,  sites,  139'. 
Randolph,  relics  found  in,  33*. 


Red  House,  circular  work,  34\ 
Red    Jacket,    birthplace    of,  145'; 

burial  place,  6I^ 
Rensselaerville,  camps,  28\ 
Rexford  Flats,  site  near,  142*. 
Rhinebeck,  Sepascots  at,  59'. 
Richfield  Springs,  sites  near,  I34^ 
Ridgeway,  remains  in,  131^. 
Robbins,    Thomas,    description  of 

earthwork  in  Onondaga  co.,  17'. 
Rochester,  sites  near,  93"-95'. 
Rockaways,  territory  occupied  by, 

13',  Io6^ 
Rodman,  works  near,  76^  77'. 
Rome,  camps  and  relics,  no'. 
Romulus,  site,  145^  I46^ 
Roseboom,  site,  136*. 
Rosendale,  site,  I57\ 
Rotterdam,  relics  found  in,  142^ 
Round  lake,  site,  I42\ 
Runonvea,  50*. 

Rush,  sites  in,  96^  100*;  camp  near, 
99". 

Rutland,  bone  pit,  74*;  works,  76^. 
Rutledge,  mound,  35^ 
Ruttenber,   E.   M.,  History  of  the 
Indian  tribes  of  Hudson  River,  16*. 
Rye,  site,  162'. 
Rye  Pond,  160'. 

Sacandaga  lake,  camps  near,  72°. 
Sacandaga  river,  141^. 
Sachus,  159'. 
Sackhoes,  159'. 

Sag   Harbor,   site,    150';  Sachem's 

hole,  150*. 
St  Jacques,  I26^ 
St  Johnland,  cemeteries,  148'. 
St  Johnsville,  cemetery  near,  102'. 
St  Joseph,  Indian  village,  35*. 
St  Lawrence  river,  66°. 
St  Lawrence  village,  78*. 
St  Michael,  126". 
St  Regis,  inhabitants,  67*. 


184 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


St  Rene,  Indian  village,  35^ 

St  Stephen's,  Indian  village,  35^  37^ 

Salem,  relics  found  in,  I58^ 

Salina,  camps  in,  iig^. 

Salmon  creek,  38*,  40*. 

Salmon  river,  57",  132^ 

Sammonsville,  stockade,  67°. 

Sand  Lake,  site,  138°. 

Sanders  lake,  142^ 

Sandy  creek,  77". 

Sanfords  Corners,  works  near,  74"- 
75'. 

Saponies,  I55^ 
Saranac,  site  in,  56^ 
Saranac  river,  56^ 

Saratoga,  purchase,   13',   15^*;  sites, 

I4I^ 

Saugerties,  sites,  I56\ 
Savannah,  earthwork,  158'. 
Scandlesville,  camps,  I5il 
Schaghticoke,  location,  138'. 
Schenectady,  sites,  142^  142'. 
Schenevus  creek,  135°. 
Schenevus  lake,  136*. 
Schoharie,  site,  143". 
Schoharie  creek,  100*,  I05\ 
Schoharies,   territory   occupied  by, 
143^ 

Schoolcraft,  H.  R.,  notes  on  N.  Y. 

antiquities,  17^  quoted,  21*. 
Schuyler,  Capt.  John,  trading  post 

built  by,  97l 
Schuyler  Falls,  site  in,  57\ 
Scipio,   Indian   fields,  40';   site  on 

lot  15,  41"- 
Scipioville,  site,  39°. 
Scottsville,  sites  near,  93',  100";  camp 

near,  99°. 

Sccataugs,  territory  occupied  by,  13°- 

I4\  149". 
Sehanatisse,  102". 
Scnatsycrosry,  loi*. 
Seneca,  sites,  129'. 
Seneca  castle,  second,  gS\ 


Seneca  Falls,  site,  145*. 
Seneca  lake,  144',  145^,  145',  146',  146*, 
1 661 

Seneca  river,  36",  41^  113^,  115*,  117', 
144'- 

Senecas,  one  of  the  Five  nations, 
24°;  battle  with  Kahkwahs,  62'; 
council  house,  84', 

territory  occupied  by:  12*,  15', 
25";  in  Allegany  county,  29*;  in 
Cattaraugus  county,  34*;  in  Erie 
county,  61^;  in  Livingston  county, 
80^;  in  Monroe  county,  93^,  97*; 
in  Niagara  county,  107^;  in  On- 
tario county,  125^;  in  Seneca 
county,  I44^  See  also  Antouhon- 
orons. 

Sennett,  site,  36^ 

Sepascots,  territory  occupied  by,  59^ 
Setaakets,  territory  occupied  by,  13". 
Sgahisgaaah,  location,  81*^. 
Shawangunk,  site,  157*. 
Shawnees,    in    Chenango,    31';  at 

Chugnutts,  30°. 
Shelby  Center,  circular  work  near, 

I32^ 

Shelter  island,  149*. 
Sheoquaga,  I44^ 

Sherburne,  relics  found  near,  5i'-52'. 
Sheridan,  circular  work,  43';  relics 
found  in,  42*;  ossuary,  found  in,  44*. 
Shinnecock  Hills,  sites  near,  149°. 
Shinnecocks,  territory  occupied  by, 

I4^ 

Sidney,  Indian  fort,  58^ 
Sinamon  Indians,  i6i^ 
Sinclairville,  description  of  sites,  45'- 

46',  47'. 
Sing  Sing  creek,  50". 
Sint  Sincks,  160'. 

Sites,  arrangement  of  description  of, 
25*. 

Siwanoys,  i6i'. 
Skaneateles,  camps  in,  120^ 


INDEX  TO  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


Skaneatelcs  lake,  120'. 
Skaniadarighroonas,    at  Chugnutts, 

Skannayittenate,  145°. 
Skoiyase,  145^ 

Sleepy  Hollow,  Indian  graves,  71®. 
Slingerland  flats,  camps,  28'. 
Sloansville,  stone  heap  near,  143^. 
Smithboro,  camps  near,  152*. 
Smith's  Basin,  sites,  158*. 
Smoke's  creek,  66\ 
Sodiis,  sites,  97*. 

Sodus  Point,  arrowheads  and  celts, 
I58^ 

Sohanidisse,  loi". 
Somers,  site,  I59^ 
Sonnontouan,  99'. 
Sonojowauga,  84°. 
Sonoyawa,  86°. 

South  Lansing,  graves  found  in,  154". 

South  Salem,  cemetery,  I59^ 

South  Stockton,  description  of 
works,  4&'-47^. 

Southampton,  sites  near,  149®. 

Southold  j'illage,  sites,  149'. 

Spafiford,  site,  I20^ 

Sparta,  mound,  86*. 

Sprakers,  village  at,  104'. 

Springlake,  relics  found  near,  36^. 

Springport,  sites,  38^-39'. 

Springwater,  mound,  82^ 

Squakie  Indians,  85^ 

Squier,  E.  G.,  work  on  N.  Y.  an- 
tiquities, I/**;  on  situation  uf  N.  Y. 
earth ,vorks,  20^;  on  builders  of 
earthworks,  20^-21';'  opinion  re- 
garding N.  Y.  earthworks,  17°,  19"- 
20^  21^-22'. 

vStaatsburg,  village  site,  60'. 

Staten  island,  relics  found  on,  I39^ 

Stedman,  skeletons  found  near,  45\ 

Steep  Hill  creek,  83'. 

Stillwater  flats,  camp,  54^ 

Stittville,  village  site, 


Stockades,  description,  167'. 

Stockbridge,  relics  found  in,  89"; 
sites  near,  91^. 

Stockbridge  Indians,  territory  occu- 
pied by,  28',  135',  139'. 

Stockton,  relics  found  in,  42\ 

Stone  Arabia,  village  site,  103*. 

Stony  Brook,  shells  found  at,  I49\ 

Stony  Hills,  cemetery,  160". 

SUiyvesant,  arrowheads  from,  57'"*. 

Sugar  Loaf  mountain  131". 

Susquehanna  river,  58",  59°,  I34^  135^ 
135",  136',  151'- 

Susquehannas,  I5^ 

Swahyawana,  146'. 

Syracuse,  sites,  117*. 

Taghkanic  creek,  I55*. 
Taghkanick,  location,  57^. 
Taghkanick  mountains,  59^ 
Tarrytown,  site,  i6i\ 
Tawasentha,  27". 

Taylor,  John,  accounts  of  forts  in 

Jefferson  cc,  I7^ 
Tcdarighroones,  I55^ 
Tegatainedaghque,  68^-69*. 
Tehondaloga,  I05\ 
Tenotoge,  101°. 

Territories  of  aboriginal  nations  of 

N.  Y.,  11-16. 
Thenondiogo,  102'*,  104^ 
Theresa,  relics  found  near,  78^ 
Thiohero,  Indian  village,  35^  37^ 
Thomas,   Cyrus,   account  of  earth- 
works, 18". 
Thompson's  lake,  camp  on,  28'. 
Three  IMile  harbor,  150'. 
Throopsville  station,  cemetery  near, 

4I^ 

Ticonderoga,  relics  found  in,  66®. 

Tioga,  cemetery,  15  f. 

Tioga  Center,  camp  near,  153*. 

Tioga  Ferry,  site,  iS2\ 

Tioga  Point,  sites,  153'. 


I 86  NEW  YORK  < 

Tioga  river,  I47^  148'. 

Tionondogue,  I02^ 

Tiotehatton,  98'. 

Tioitghnioga  river,  31',  53®,  58^ 

Tivoli,  village  site,  60^. 

Tonawanda,  site,  61^;  modern  Seneca 

village,  68^ 
Tonawanda  creek,  io8^  I09^ 
Totiacton,  ggl 
Totieronno,  155°. 

Tottenville,  relics  found  near,  1391 
Towanoendalough,     first  Mohawk 

town,  135". 
Traditions,  of  Indians,  21*. 
Trenton,  village  site,-  IIO^ 
Tribeshill,  village  at,  I03^ 
Tunaengwant  valley,  34°. 
Tunesassah,  an  Indian  village,  34*. 
Turtle  tribe,  102*. 
Tuscarora  creek,  87^. 
Tuscaroras,  added  to  Five  nations, 

24"; 

territory  occupied  by;  25";  in 
Chugnutts,  30®;  in  Livingston 
county,  83^;  in  Madison  county, 
86^  89^;  in  Niagara  county,  108". 

Tuthilltown,  site,  I57^ 

Tyoshoke  creek,  138*, 

Tysch-sa-ron-dia,  72'. 

Ulysses,  sites,  i55l 
Unadilla,  sites,  135'. 
Unawats'  castle,  28^ 
Union,  sites,  30^ 

Union  Springs,  stone  relics  found 
near,  38^  • 
Unkechaugs,  149^ 
Upper  Cayuga,  location,  39^. 
Upper  Iroquois,  5o\ 

Van   Corlaer,    Arcnt,    travels,  86', 
90",  10 1\ 

Van  Rensselaer,  Killian,  land  pur- 
chased from  Mahikans,  15',  138'. 


n-E  MUSEUM 

Varick,  camps,  145'. 

Venice,  village  site,  40*. 

Venice  Center,  graves  near,  4I^ 

Vermont,  cemetery  in,  47°. 

Vernon,  church  in,  92';  methodist 

mission  house,  112^. 
Versailles,  fort  near,  35^ 
Vestal,  sites,  30^ 

Victor,  sites,  127°;  work  on  Bough- 
ton  hill,  I26^ 

Visitors,  early,  historic  importance, 
25^  26^ 

Wading  river,  149^ 
Wallkill,  I57». 

Wampum  trade,  seat  of,  I48^ 
Waoraneaks,  territory  occupied  by, 
13". 

Wappinger  creek,  S9'- 

Wappingers,  territory  occupied  by, 

I3^  59^ 

Warpoes,  107'. 
Warwick,  site,  131*. 
Warynawaucks,  156*. 
Waterburg,  sites,  i55\ 
Waterloo,  sites,  144',  145^. 
Watertown,  bone  pit  near,  74*;  sites 

near,  75"^;  works  near,  76'. 
Watervale,  site  near,  I22^ 
Watcrvliet,  arrowheads  from,  28\ 
Watkins,  site,  144". 
Wauteghe,  location,  54^ 
Waverly,   Spanish  hill,    152';  sites, 

153'. 

Wawanaquassick,  location,  57'. 
Wawarsing,  site,  I56*-S7^ 
Weltonville,  sites  near,  151'. 
West  Bloomfield,  sites,  127*, 
West  Chester,  sites,  161',  162'. 
West  Davenport,  sites,  59". 
West  Henrietta,  site,  95°. 
West  Newark,  sites  near,  151*. 
West  Saugerties,  graves  near,  156*. 
West  Troy,  camp  site,  281 


INDEX  TO  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPATION  OF  NEW  YORK 


Westfield,  remains  of  works  in,  42°. 

Wetqueschek,  I6I^ 

Wheatland,  works  in,  93^;  Bony  hill, 

100". 

White  Plains,  sites,  i6i\ 
White  springs,  126^  129'. 
Whitney's  Point,  camp  sites,  31'. 
Wiccopees,   territory   occupied  by, 
59'. 

Williamsville,  relics  found  in,  65^ 
Wilson,  mound,  Io8^ 
Wiltmeet,  fort,  I56^ 
Wilton,  sites,  141®. 


Windsor,  relics  found  at,  31''. 
Wirt,  work  near,  30^ 
Wolcott,  site,  158',  159'. 
Wynkoop  creek,  5I^ 

Yonkers,  sites,  i6i\ 
Yorktown,  site,  159". 
Young,  A.  W.,  History  of  Chaut 
qua,  I8^ 

Zenung^e,  87'. 
Zonnesschio,  84^ 


iEx  ICIibrt0 

SEYMOUR  DURST 


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Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Di  rst  Old  York  Library 


.  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

Object.  The  object  of  the  University  as  defined  by  law  is  to  eiicour- 
age  and  promote  education  in  advance  of  the  common  elementary 
branches.  Its  field  includes  not  only  the  work  of  academies,  colleges, 
universities,  professional  and  technical  schools,  but  also  educational  work 
connected  with  libraries,  museums,  university  extension  courses  and 
similar  agencies. 

The  University  is  a  supervisory  and  administrative,  not  a  teaching 
institution.  It  is  a  state  department  and  at  the  same  time  a  federation 
of  more  than  800  institutions  of  higher  and  secondary  education. 

Government.  The  University  is  governed  and  all  its  corporate 
powers  exercised  by  19  elective  regents  and  by  the  governor,  lieutenant- 
governor,  secretary  of  state  and  superintendent  of  pubHc  instruction  who 
are  ex  officio  regents.  Regents  are  elected  in  the  same  manner  as  United 
States  senators;  they  are  unsalaried  and  are  the  only  public  officers  in 
New  York  chosen  for  life. 

The  elective  officers  are  a  chancellor  and  a  vice-chancellor,  who  serve 
without  salary,  and  a  secretary.  The  secretary  is  the  executive  and 
financial  officer,  is  under  official  bonds  for  $10,000,  is  responsible  for  the 
safe-keeping  and  proper  use  of  the  University  seal  and  of  the  books, 
records  and  other  property  in  charge  of  the  regents,  and  for  the  proper 
administration  and  discipUne  of  its  various  offices  and  departments. 

Powers  and  duties.  Besides  many  other  important  powers  and 
duties,  the  regents  have  power  to  incorporate,  and  to  alter  or  revoke  the 
charters  of  universities,  colleges,  academies,  hbraries,  museums,  or  other 
educational  institutions ;  to  distribute  to  them  funds  granted  by  the  state 
for  their  use;  to  inspect  their  working?  and  Require  annual  reports  under 
oath  of  their  presiding  officers ;  to  establish  examinations  as  to  attain- 
ments in  learning  and  confer  on  successful  candidates  suitable  certificates, 
diplomas  and  degrees,  and  to  confer  honorary  degrees. 

They  apportion  annually  an  academic  fund  of  about  $250,000,  part 
for  buying  books  and  apparatus  for  academies  and  high  schools  raising 
an  equal  amount  for  the  same  purpose,  $100  to  each  nonsectarian 
secondary  school  in  good  standing  and  the  remainder  on  the  basis  of 
attendance  and  the  results  of  instruction  as  shown  by  satisfactory  com- 
pletion of  prescribed  courses  for  which  the  regents  examinations  afford 
the  official  test.  The  regents  also  expend  annually  $25,000  for  the 
benefit  of  free  public  Hbraries. 

Regents  meetings.    The  annual  meeting  is  held  the  third  Thurs- 
day in  December,  and  other  meetings  are  held  as  often  as  business  ^ 
requires..   An  executive  committee  of  nine  regents  is  elected  at  the  ' 
annual  meeting  to  act  for  the  board  in  the  intervals  between  its  meetings, 
except  that  it  can  not  grant,  alter,  suspend  or  revoke  charters  or  grant 
honorary  degrees. 

Convocation.  The  University  convocation  of  the  regents  and  the 
officers  of  institutions  in  the  University,  for  consideration  of  subjects  of 
mutual  interest,  has  been  held  annually  since  1863  in  the  senate  chamber 
in  Albany.  It  meets  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  after  the  fourth 
Friday  in  June. 

Though  primarily  a  New  York  meeting,  nearly  all  questions  discussed 
are  of  equal  interest  outside  of  the  state.  Its  reputation  as  the  most  im- 
portant higher  educational  meeting  of  the  country  has  in  the  past  few 
years  drawn  to  it  many  eminent  educators  not  residents  of  New  York, 
who  are  most  cordially  welcomed  and  share  fully  in  all  discussions.  It 
elects  each  year  a  council  of  five  to  represent  it  in  intervals  between 
meetings.  Its  proceedings,  issued  annually,  are  of  great  value  in  all 
educational  libraries. 


